PARISMARAIS NEWSLETTER, ISSUE N°117, 23 MARCH 2014
" IS PARIS VOTING? "

Paris City Hall in Renaissance Style

IS PARIS VOTING ?

Bonjour from Le Marais

Parisians are voting for their next mayor on March 23 and March 30, 2014, at the same time as other French municipal elections. The current Mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, has decided not to run for reelection to a third term. The two lead candidates are for the first time in history both women, which is good news for women ! The Social Democrat Party candidate is Anne Hidalgo, and her honourable rival is Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet of the Liberal-Conservative party.

Control of the 20 arrondissements of the French capital will first be decided in the elections. The elected council from the first election will then be responsable for voting in the Paris mayoral elections. Both of the favoured female candidates are young and full of energy, and therefore able to continue the new impulsion and dynamism, especially in cultural contexts, which were started 12 years ago by the present Social Democrat Mayor, Bertrand Delanoë. While most certainly giving a new and more attractive image to Paris, this also one of the reasons that Paris has become one of the most expensive cities of the world regarding real estate. Despite these aspects, the City of Light shines brighter than ever with its unique glow.

We at PARISMARAIS.COM as local media know how hard our municipal staff works to improve and maintain Paris on all levels such as transport as well as culturally, however, more than talking about politics, we are happy to present to you our dear and talented friend Thirza Vallois' indispensable history of the Paris City Hall.

Pascal Fonquernie
Editor PARISMARAIS.COM

Roof details of City Hall

Guards on roof tops

Hotel de Ville Facade

Etienne Marcel Statue first Mayor of Paris

Back side of the city Hall

Fabulous lighting for great events

Hotel de Ville Ballroom during the fashion week

hotel de ville de paris

Hotel de Ville Typical Napoleon 3 Style

Lights, Models, Guestlist... Absolutely Fabulous

Hotel de Ville Stained Glass Window

Hotel de Ville Grand Ballroom

THE PARIS HOTEL DE VILLE BY THIRZA VALLOIS

Place de l'Hotel de Ville, the oldest square and until the completion of the places des Vosges and Dauphine the only square in the capital, originally formed a sandy cove down to the river. This "descent"was optimalforgrounding and anchoring boats. A port was probably installed in the Carolingian period and followed the imprint of a Gallo-Roman path. Navigation on the Seine was a key issue because the majority of goods arrived in Paris by water.

The site and its surroundings made up a large commercial area and the shoreline was divided into different ports, the main port being for wine. Other existing ports included those for coal, wood, and wheat. In the 17th century port Grève, as it was known, began to face competition from other ports on the Seine and lost its monopoly on wine importation. In the 18th century, it found itself in competition with the "Les Halles" market. In the early 19th century, the port was used for grain shipment and later became an important market for apples from Normandy.

Since 1967, the left bank expressway is located on the site of the former port, forming a 13km highway linking St. Cloud to Bercy. The Banks were classified a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1991.

Place de l'Hotel de Ville was used for parties organized by the municipality and to celebrate births and marriages of the royal family, but it was also the place for important executions from 1310 to 1830, including those of Ravaillac and La Brinvilliers. During the 19th century the square expanded, finally becoming a vast pedestrian area in 1982 to mark the centenary of the rebuilding of the Hotel de Ville. Hotel de Ville is a major attraction and still a popular place for festive gatherings of all kinds. It is also a convenient starting point for then discovering the Marais.

The first stone of the building commissioned by Francois the 1st was placed on July 15, 1533 by the Italian architect Dominique Cortone, also known as the Boccador. Religious wars slowed the progression of the building. It was not until 1606 that the architect Marin de la Vallée, during the reign of Henry IV, continued the project. Don't forget to admire a copy of the equestrian statue of Henri IV placed above the central door; the original is kept at the Musée Carnavalet.

During the Fronde revolution, the Hotel de Ville was the center of opposition to the regency of Anne of Austria and Mazarin.

In the early 19th century important extension work was undertaken, and the building surface passed from 4000m2 to 9600m2. The layout of the new facades was freely inspired by the Italian Renaissance. The decoration of the interior galleries was entrusted to renowned artists such as Eugène Delacroix and Jean-Dominique Ingres.

After the disaster of Sedan and the abdication of Napoleon III, the Republic was proclaimed at the City Hall on September 4, 1870. A few months later the government withdrew to Versailles, leaving room for the Commune, which in turn was proclaimed on March 28, 1871. The insurgents set fire to the Town Hall (Hotel de Ville) when the Versailles troops entered Paris on May 24.

As it was impossible to restore the building due to the calcination of the stones, the municipality organized a contest in 1872-1873 for the reconstruction of the building.

Hotel de Ville Ruins in 1871

Projects by Théodore Ballu and Antoine Deperthes were selected, bringing back the facade to its original state as realized by Bocador.
The Hotel de Ville, a palace in honor of the republic, is decorated with a profusion of sculptures. The iconography revolves around three themes: allegories, cities of France, and famous men and women.

Read more on : http://www.parismarais.com/marais/uk_hotel-de-ville-paris-city-hall.php
READ MORE BY THIRZA VALLOIS ON :
http://www.thirzavallois.com/

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Parismarais Newsletter, issue N°117, 23 MARCH 2014.
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