Town Hall (Hotel de Ville)

The town hall building is among the most famous sights of Paris. In 1357, merchant sergeant Etienne Marseille purchased a large house to hold meetings of the townspeople. Over the centuries, the building was gradually rebuilt, and in 1871 a fire destroyed it. The modern building is the result of restoration. The second life of the old town hall building began after the position of mayor of the city appeared in Paris. As the capital of France, for a long time Paris was the only large city in France that did not have a city manager. The first mayor of Paris, elected in 1977, is Jacques Chirac, who later took over the state.

Having become the mayor of the city, Chirac thoroughly approached the issue of comprehensive restoration of the town hall building. In 1980, the square adjacent to the town hall building was rebuilt, which was decorated with bizarre lanterns and picturesque fountains. Over the years, this place has been used for public executions and is now one of the most popular in the French capital. In winter, the skating rink is poured on the square in front of the town hall, which is open until spring.