Brothels were outlawed in France in 1946 following a campaign by an ex prostitute, member op Parliament, who was a war hero from WW1 and did heroic things in the resistance in WW2. She is quite famous, and you will find a full explanation by googling "Marthe Richard".

Before the French Revolution, the prostitution in Paris was controlled by the regiment of the Gardes françaises. They controlled the brothels and the prostitution trade, provided bouncers, pimps and so on. In Holland and many German states, prostitution was often a monopoly of the Meier (Mayor) who was paid,and paid the town guard, from the taxes on prostitutes. After the Revolution, free enterprise stepped in, and prostitution became a major health hazard in Paris, mainly because of the Imperial guard. Since they were the only ones who marched into and were billeted in the major conquered cities, they also had access to prostitutes, and the sexual transmittable diseases. The crisis reached a climax (hahum) when the guard returned from Vienna in 1810. The Parisian prostitutes then collectively refused services to the members of the Imperial guard because Vienneses prostitutes had the reputation of carrying gonorrhea, "la maladie Viennoise".

Best regards,

Bruno