belle époque

American  

[bel ey-pawk] / ˈbɛl eɪˈpɔk /

Or Belle Époque

noun

French.

plural

belles époques

1. the period (1871–1914) between the end of the Franco-Prussian War and the outbreak of World War I, characterized by relative peacefulness in Western Europe and by marked advances and productivity in the arts, literature, technology, etc.

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belle époque British  

/ bɛl epɔk /

noun

1. the period of comfortable well-established life in Europe before World War I

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Etymology

Origin of belle époque

Literally, “beautiful epoch”

Example Sentences

She bought a six-floor belle époque townhouse in Belgravia, one of London’s most exclusive neighborhoods, and began to make a name in the city’s social circles.

From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2022

In Argentina, Corradi initially taught at a Provolo Institute for the Deaf in La Plata, a provincial city an hour’s drive from the belle époque buildings of Buenos Aires.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2019

The vibe is more belle époque salon than music club, but those in search of a more traditional live venue can find one without leaving the building.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2015

Despite the modernity, Clark somehow pulls a baroque pop gem out of nowhere with Paris is Burning, a song as effulgent as the belle époque itself, with a cascading waltz outro .

From The Guardian • Jul. 1, 2015

In a belle époque metal frame tinged with verdigris was a photograph of his parents, Grace and Ernest, three days after their wedding.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan