Description of the attraction
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 bring the monarchy under the control of parliament (States General).
Thus, the house on the banks of the Seine already in the XIV century became a point of concentration of ideas and practice of urban self-government. He kept this mission up to our time.
In 1533, the Italian architect Boccador rebuilt the building, transforming it into a real palace with a splendid façade, as was the case during the Renaissance. The interiors of the building were not inferior to those of Versailles - wealthy merchants set the tone in the city municipality, 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 festivities were held here, and public executions took place here. I saw a lot of riots and revolutions in the square, but the Town Hall survived them safely until the Paris Commune burst out. She burned 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 the city hall of Paris is located here. 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.
