The Hôtel de Ville in Paris is often considered one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. Its elaborate architecture, white stone façade, and soaring towers catch the eye, especially as the sunlight shifts at dusk. The magic of the building can sometimes go unnoticed from the busy square in front, but it comes alive in the evening light.
Watching the colors change on the Hôtel de Ville’s rooftops and spires is a favorite activity for many. Some choose to admire this view from a café on the Ile de St. Louis, such as the Lutece, where the sunset transforms the cityscape into a painting. Others head to the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV) department store on Rue de Rivoli. From the store’s roof terrace, just a short climb by stairs, visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of the Hôtel de Ville’s dramatic roof, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the Seine River below.
The current Hôtel de Ville is not the original. The first building, dating from the 16th century, was destroyed by fire in 1871 during the Paris Commune. The present structure, completed mainly by 1882, is a grand reconstruction designed by architects Ballu and Deperthes, chosen after a competition. Larger than its predecessor, the building features lavish decorations inside and out. The use of brilliant white stone links it visually with other Paris landmarks, such as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
A statue along the south garden wall honors Etienne Marcel, a historical figure who served as "provost of merchants," an early version of the city’s mayor. His story ended tragically in 1358 when he was lynched by an angry crowd for attempting to increase the city’s power. Over the years, the Hôtel de Ville has played host to major figures and events. It was famously the power base for Jacques Chirac, former mayor of Paris and later president of France, whose tenure brought both political success and scandal. The building was also the scene where General de Gaulle greeted joyful Parisians after the city’s liberation in 1944 and where Robespierre was seized in 1794 during the French Revolution.
Those who admire the grand style of the Hôtel de Ville may be interested to know that Théodore Ballu, one of its architects, also designed the Church of La Trinité in the 9th arrondissement. Ballu’s hand can also be seen in the belfry of the town hall of the 1st arrondissement, located across from the Louvre’s eastern façade. He is also responsible for the restoration of the Tour St Jacques, a medieval tower that was uncovered after many years of careful work.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville,_Paris
Part gallery - part restaurant - part nightclub, La Cite (Les Docks) is a modern building that is instantly recognisable due to being draped on one side with a large neon green shell covering the stairwells and roof the building. Roughly translated in English as The City of Fashion and Design, this is a trendy spot at the weekends and is used for event like Paris Design Week. The restaurant in the building is open all year round.
The building has a freely accessible rooftop which allows for a beautiful bird's-eye view of the northern half of Paris.
Numerous artists paint portraits of tourists and also sell their paintings.
The massive parish church of the Les Halles area is a notable example of late Gothic interspersed with Renaissance details (including the entire front façade), as it was only completed in the 17th century. Its unique form results from a combination of relatively short length and impressive height of over 30 metres inside. The latter allows room not only for an array of stained glass windows and paintings, but also France's largest church organ of 8,000 pipes. The sculpture Écoute, depicting an oversized human head, was placed in front of the church's southern facade and has become a favourite photo spot.
Enter Bastille station through any entrance or on any train and then make your way to the Bobigny/Pablo Picasso-bound platform. All that's left of the fortress whose front steps used to lead up from place de la Bastille are some foundation stones which you can see while waiting for a north bound train on this metro platform. There are maps and explanations showing where the fortress used to be relative the place and surroundings (basically the location of the old front steps are now occupied by Café des Phares).
One of the best-known and most beautiful churches in Paris, in the guise of a Corinthian order classical temple. Construction started in 1764, although the church was not finally consecrated until 1845. The Madeleine has a lavish interior of marble and gold.
The oldest planned square in Paris, and what many tourists as well as locals consider the heart of the Marais area.
This charming museum is owned by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts. Its main collection areas, the result of several large donations, include: First Empire art and furnishings; illuminated manuscripts; and Impressionist art, including the largest Monet collection in the world and works by Renoir, Manet, Morisot, Caillebotte and Gauguin.
The Pasteur Museum is housed in the apartment where the great scientist spent the last 7 years of his life. Hardly touched since that time, the museum is full of personal memorabilia and scientific instruments. Pasteur is buried on the grounds in a flamboyant mosaic-decorated mausoleum. The museum was closed to individual visitors for security reasons after the 13th November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.
Since 2021 the 18th-century former Bourse de Commerce building has been the Paris home of the art collection of the French business magnate François Pinault, showing a rotating selection of contemporary artworks either newly commissioned or taken from his collection.
A monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to beaux-arts splendour, its galleries and period rooms showcase eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.
Housed in an amazing Art Deco building, purpose-built for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition, featuring an elaborate frieze across the front facade that depicts the achievement of French overseas territories. It houses an Aquarium and an Immigration Museum. The aquarium can be seen in about an hour and is popular with families with small children.
It was conceived by Louis XV as a grand neo-classical church honouring St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. After the Revolution, the building was converted into a mausoleum for the great philosophers, military, artists, scientists, and heroes of the French Republic. Occupants of the crypt include Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Zola, the Curies, and Alexandre Dumas (reinterred here in 2002). The view from the dome (206 steps) is marvellous. Check tour departure times at the information desk. A fascinating reconstruction of Foucault's pendulum also hangs within the Panthéon.
There are many beautiful footpaths, a Buddhist Temple, and a lake with rowboats available for rental (about €10 as of 2009). The lake has many different kinds of birds, and islands accessible by footbridge.
The museum is located in a 17th century house with a garden, and features the history and culture of Montmartre. Several famous artists had lived in the house including Renoir.