Hôtel de Ville, Paris, France

The Hôtel de Ville has been the seat of the Paris city council since 1357 when the "mayor" (provost des merchants) of Paris, Etienne Marcel, bought the then called House of Pillars on behalf of the municipality. In 1533 King Francis I found the House of Pillars unsuitable of being the Town Hall of Paris, had it torn down and had a new, tall, spacious building constructed in its place. The works weren't finished until 1628. In 1835 two wings were added to the main building to provide more space to the expanded city government.
In 1871, following the defeat of Napoleon III by the Prussian army, the Paris Commune took over the government of the city and chose the Hôtel de Ville as its headquarters. As anti-Commune troops approached the Communards set fire to the Hôtel of which only an empty stone shell was left. The reconstruction of the Hôtel started in 1873 and lasted 19 years, maintaining the 16th-century facade. On the facade are the statues of 338 famous Parisians. 

Opening hours: Visits are available once a week for a group of 30 people but you must sign up. The day and time are released on the Friday before the visit.You can sign up at the welcome desk on 29 rue de Rivoli from Monday to Saturday, between 10 am and 7 pm. Free and regular temporary exhibitions about Paris.

Entrance free.

How to go: Hôtel de Ville metro station.






Local: Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris, França

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