The introduction outlines the main turns that have led to a general rediscovery of the spatial dimension in various fields of the human and social sciences. In historical research as well, for some decades now, space has gained increasing importance and is no longer considered as the mere backdrop against which social, political and cultural phenomena are projected, but is used to interpret those phenomena in a different way. With reference to ancien régime cities, a focus on spatial dynamics makes it possible to understand the underlying logic of certain individual and collective actions aimed at the creation of rights and access to local resources, and how these practices participated in the construction of the urban setting. The latter were characterised by a meticulous regulation of spaces and the privileges that could be enjoyed there, as a result of the combination of formal recognition and reiterated social practices.