This is a sumptuous building that was burned down during the Commune era and then rebuilt in a similar style. Very elaborate. It is fun to walk around and walk through. Check out the possibility of a show at the free museum here, the shows are terrific. And it's the city hall, a working building.

Nothing reminds now of the Place de Grève, the place of executions and the guillotine of the turbulent days of the French Revolution. The nowadays square is beautiful, vibrant, full of street performers, children chasing soap bubbles, tourist groups… The 19th century building built in French Renaissance style has become iconic symbol of Paris. Never a dull moment there…

We stop by Hotel de Ville (aka City Hall and home of the mayor) every time we visit Paris. Built in the 1500s and 1600s as home to several Kings of France; reconstructed in the late 1800s after it burned during the Paris Commune in 1871. It is a beautiful building, and the plaza in front is almost always entertaining! It's a great place to relax...the people watching is interesting. Sometimes there is music or other type of performance happening. On this most recent visit, the Hotel de Ville was colorfully decorated in anticipation of the Olympic Games to be held in Paris this summer. In the past, we have enjoyed the plaza in front of the building for the art and music and food during the Nuit Blanche festivities. Walking around the building allows you to see a garden and lots of statuary and even bullet holes from attacks during WWII.