Hotel de Ville Tour Guide
Comprehensive guide to Hotel de Ville area tours
The Hotel de Ville or the City Hall, located in Paris, is a building that houses the administration of City of Paris. This municipality office of Paris, serves several functions, is home to the local administration, is the office of the Mayor of Paris, and also serves as a venue for large receptions.
The Hotel de Ville has long been the center of numerous political scenes in Paris and much like its parent city, has had a turbulent past. Though the first municipality for Parisians was created in 1246, it didn’t get a building until 1357, called House of Pillars. The current Hotel de Ville was constructed in Renaissance style from 1553 and 1628. Since then it has witnessed two extensions (1803 and 1837).
One of the most striking features of the Hotel de Ville is the 108 statues adorning its façade. Each pillar represents a famous Parisian, while 30 other statues represent the various cities in France. A large clock at the central tower is ornamented with sculptures of female form representative of the Seine River, the City of Paris, 'Work,' and 'Education'.
If you love ornate work that reeks of money and ostentatiousness then you’ll love the interiors of the City Hall. Decorated in Empire style, noteworthy features of the interiors are the large staircase, staircase, the painted walls and ceilings, the long-dimension Salle des Fêtes (ballroom), the stained glass windows that reflect colored patches on the floor on a sunny day, and the custom-made Hôtel de Villenumerous chandeliers.
The lawns of the Hotel de Ville are well decorated and beautifully cared for as well. The south side of the garden has a statue of Étienne Marcel, the first ever mayor or “prévôt des marchands” (provost of merchants). Marcel was lynched by an angry mob and died a horrible death. The architect of the Hotel de Ville, Ballu has also designed the Church of La Trinité in the 9 arrondissement, restored the Saint-Jacques Tower, which is a Gothic church tower in the Hôtel de Ville’s square. This square is dubiously famous for being the site of executions in Paris. However, the last execution was held in 1830, and soon after the square was renamed the Place de Hotel de Ville. Haussmann extended the square to its current size.
The left or north side of the Hotel de Ville is situated on the Rue de Rivoli and the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV), a department store and building’s namesake, is also located here allowing plenty of shopping opportunities to visitors.