Audio GuideHôtel de Ville
Neo-Renaissance administrative building with regular exhibitions & tours by appointment.
Town Hall
Paris, France
Welcome to the Hôtel de Ville in the heart of Paris. This majestic city hall, reconstructed in the splendid Renaissance Revival style following a destructive fire during the Paris Commune in eighteen seventy-one, offers a window into centuries of French history. First established in thirteen fifty-seven, the site has long served as an administrative hub, witnessing events from the French Revolution and the proclamation of the Third Republic to contemporary celebrations.
The exterior captivates with its expansive central façade, impressive bell tower, and intricate sculptures symbolising concepts like Art and Science. Inside, the ballroom echoes the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, while the formal dining hall is adorned with historical frescoes paying tribute to France’s diverse regions and rich cultural heritage.
Throughout the years, notable individuals, from Queen Victoria to Charles de Gaulle, have walked these halls. Located in Paris’s fourth arrondissement, the Hôtel de Ville remains both a functioning seat of government and a monument celebrating Parisian history. Guided tours and regular exhibitions invite international visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant stories embedded within this iconic building.
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