The Paris Hôtel de Ville isn’t a “hotel”, but a city hall. At one time the area was used to dock trading ships. An Alderman bought a grand house near what was then called “the place de Grève”. The two-storeyed building featured two towers and arcades, and became known as the “House of Pillars”. This building began to serve as a rudimentary city hall. The “Place de Grève” is famous for being one of the squares were most of the public executions in Paris took place (i.e. capital punishement). From 1310 on people were beheaded, quartered, cooked up or burned at the stake in full view of the crowd. In 1792 a guillotine was installed, and it would see much use during the French Revolution (along with its sister in the Place de la Concorde).













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After the revolution, between 1753 and 1768, the building was rebuilt in Renaissance style. It was set on fire by revolutionaries in 1771, then enlarged and rebuilt in 1803, and modified again in 1837. By 1882 restoration construction finished, and the new Hôtel de Ville was officially inaugurated. Decorated with 108 statues representing famous Parisians and 30 statues to represent French cities, the Hôtel de Ville became the political center of Paris. It was also given a clock for its central tower, which was adorned with several feminine sculptures representing the Seine River, the city of Paris, “Work”, and “Education”.













































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