The modern Town Hall of Paris traces its origins to a house on the banks of the Seine, bought in 1357 by the merchant Prévost Étienne Marcel for the purpose of holding town meetings. The Prévost was in dire need of this: he was the head of a reform movement attempting to bring the monarchy under the control of Parliament (the General States).
Thus, the house on the banks of the Seine became, as early as the fourteenth century, a focal point for the ideas and practice of urban self-government. It has retained this mission right up to our time.
In 1533, the Italian architect Boccador rebuilt the building, turning it into a real palace with a luxurious 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 in a symbol of their power.
The square in front of the Town Hall was called Grevskaya for a long time. Here were held popular festivities, here public executions. The square saw many riots and revolutions, but the Town Hall survived them safely until the Paris Commune broke out. That burned the building along with the city archives and library.
The current Town Hall was built especially for the city authorities on the historic site in 1882. The building is larger, but in its basic features is a replica of the old City Hall. Among the additions are 80 statues of prominent Parisians and French personalities placed in niches on the walls of the palace. Its interiors are still sumptuous.
Today it is the seat of the Paris City Hall. Officially, the Town Hall is called the Hôtel de Ville (city palace). The city's first mayor was not elected until 1977, before which there had been no such position since the Paris Commune. In the building eleven times a year the council meets to solve the problems of both Paris and the department (region of France) of the same name. The council meetings are open and public.
At the Hôtel de Ville, Paris's honoured guests are received personally by the mayor of the capital. The town hall plays not only an official role in Parisian life: exhibitions and cultural events are constantly held here.
The Hôtel de Ville is the centre of the city.
