City Hall (Hotel de Ville) description and photos - France: Paris (Topic)

City Hall (Hotel de Ville) description and photos - France: Paris. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Hotel de Ville.

Photo and description

The modern City Hall of Paris traces its ancestry to a house on the banks of the Seine, bought in 1357 by the merchant provost Etienne Marcel for holding city meetings here. Prevost felt an urgent need for this: he was the head of the reform movement, trying to put the monarchy under the control of the parliament (States General).

Thus, the house on the banks of the Seine already in the 14th century became the focus of ideas and practice of urban self-government ... It has preserved this mission until our time.

In 1533, the Italian architect Boccador rebuilt the building, turning it into a real palace with a magnificent facade, as was customary during the Renaissance. The interiors of the building were not inferior to those of Versailles - the tone in the city municipality was set by wealthy merchants, they willingly invested money in a symbol of their power.

The square in front of the Town Hall was called Grevskaya for a long time. Folk festivals were held here, and public executions were held here. I saw many riots and revolutions in the square, but the Town Hall survived them safely until the Paris Commune burst out. She burned down the building along with the city archives and the library.

The current Town Hall was built specifically for the city authorities on a historic site in 1882. The building has become larger, but in general terms it is a replica of the old city hall. Of the additions that have appeared, it is worth noting 80 statues of prominent Parisians and figures of France, located in niches on the walls of the palace. Its interiors are still luxurious.

Today it houses the City Hall of Paris. Officially, the Town Hall is called Hotel de Ville (City Palace). The first mayor of the city was elected only in 1977, before that such a post had not been since the time of the Paris Commune. The building eleven times a year meets the council that solves the problems of both Paris and the department of the same name (region of France). Meetings of the Council are open and public.

In the Hotel de Ville, the guests of honor of Paris are received personally by the mayor of the capital. The City Hall plays not only an official role in the life of Paris: exhibitions and cultural events are constantly held here.

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Topic: City Hall (Hotel de Ville) description and photos - France: Paris.