Christmas Market Outside Hôtel de Ville in Paris
The Hôtel de Ville in Paris looks like a royal palace when it isn’t. Interestingly, it was ordered built by the king and in true royal fashion, it was designed like a royal palace. At the time renaissance architecture was all the rage, so the new Hôtel de Ville of Paris looks a lot like the renaissance palaces of France. It is said that since Paris is the largest and most prestigious city in Europe at the time, it deserved a city hall that looks like it. Indeed, it won’t look that different from a Versailles or a Fontainebleau except for the size.
Olympic Symbol in Front of Hôtel de Ville in Paris
While the Hôtel de Ville was used by different governments including the French Revolution, it was during the Paris Commune that disaster struck the building. When the Communards as they were called realized that defeat was imminent, they set fire to the Hôtel de Ville. Eventually the building was reconstructed as we see it today, looking as elegant as ever. I really like the architectural style of the building. It is a shame that visitors can’t go in the building. I’m sure that it would also be nice inside considering how grandiose it is outside.
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