Before the Hôtel de Ville
The Hôtel de Ville stands on the right bank of the Seine, in the heart of a lively and densely populated district.
The river has always been essential to the development and prosperity of the capital, a true artery of commerce and transportation.
The influential Guild of the Watermen of Paris, or Nautes Parisiens (Guild of Parisian Boatmen) played a vital role in managing and facilitating river transport, thus ensuring the smooth flow of goods vital to the city’s economy.
For centuries, the Seine was indeed the main transport route. However, as early as the 12th century, the port of Saint-Landry, on the Ile de la Cité, was the only port serving Paris.
By the end of the 10th century, Paris faced with unprecedented population growth, the port struggled to meet the needs of an increasing population .
Thus, new and larger infrastructure was required!
Port and Place de Grève
In 1141, the Guild of the Watermen of Paris acquired land outside the city walls to establish a new port, the Port of Grève.
A bustling neighbourhood soon developed around the port, attracting merchants, artisans, and entrepreneurs eager to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the thriving maritime trade.
The Port of Grève was divided into two distinct sections by a row of wooden pilings. The lower section, the beach known as the Grève, served as the main unloading area for goods transported by river. The dockworkers, meanwhile, gathered in the upper section, where they waited for work.
The vital artery of the capital, the square also served as a site for religious celebrations, and sadly public executions from 1310 to 1822.
The Place de Grève was enlarged fourfold in the mid-19th century during Baron Haussmann’s renovation of Paris and was renamed Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville. Today, the Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville is renowned for its lively atmosphere and remains a popular venue for events, exhibitions, and cultural attractions.
Guild of the Watermen of Paris – Nautes Parisiens
Paris’s dependence on river trade persisted for centuries, with the Guild of the Watermen of Paris wielding considerable influence since Gallo-Roman times.
It indeed held a monopoly on river trade and controlling commerce, while also collecting tolls for goods transported not only on the Seine, but also on adjacent rivers such as the Marne, the Oise, and the Yonne.
As their wealth and influence grew, the guild members became respected merchants, exerting significant influence over the city’s affairs.
The rampart that King Philip-Augustus built in the 1190s to protect Paris incorporated the Place de Grève.
By 1246, Paris had become a thriving metropolis and required a specific administrative structure.
In a historic decision, King Louis IX (Saint-Louis) thus granted Parisians the privilege of electing their aldermen from among the members of the Watermen’s Guild. The head of this guild received the prestigious title of Provost of the Merchants of Paris (mayor), and this new assembly assumed full responsibility for the city’s administration.
The guild adopted as its emblem a silver-white ship cutting through the tumultuous waves against a bright red background, which subsequently became inseparable from the very identity of Paris.
Its motto, inspired by the legacy of Lutetia, the ancient city on the Île de la Cité, became emblematic of the indomitable spirit of Paris:
“Fluctuat nec mergitur” – “She is tossed by the waves, but does not sink.”
Parloir aux Bourgeois
The aldermen met regularly at the Parloir aux Bourgeois. This first town hall was housed in the austere Châtelet fortress which stood on what is now the Place du Châtelet.
In 1357, the Provost of the Merchants of Paris, Etienne Marcel, decided to expand the premises to meet the growing needs of the municipal administration.
He thus acquired a large building, the Maison aux Piliers (House with Pillars), which overlooked the Place de Grève.
This two-story building, which took its name from the arcaded pillars that supported its imposing structure, became the new epicentre of municipal power.
Renaissance Hôtel de Ville – Hôtel du Boccador
In 1533, King Francis I decided to provide Paris with a city hall worthy of his capital, which had become the largest city in Europe and the heart of Christendom! He thus entrusted this ambitious project to two renowned architects: the Italian Dominico de Cortona, known as Le Boccador, and Pierre Chambiges.
The Maison aux Piliers was demolished, and a magnificent city hall in the Italian Renaissance style was built on its site. The Hôtel du Boccador, as it was later called, was enlarged in 1803 and again in 1840.
Tragically, the building and its precious archives were destroyed in a fire during the Paris Commune in 1871. A few architectural features miraculously escaped destruction, including an archway that was rebuilt stone by stone in the Parc Monceau.
The architects Ballu and Deperthes undertook the monumental task of rebuilding the Hôtel de Ville from 1874 to 1882, faithfully recreating the building stone by stone and restoring its former splendour down to the smallest detail.
The 143-m-long by 80-m-wide building boasts three interior courtyards. A majestic 50-m-high tower marks the centre of its main façade, while rectangular corner pavilions contribute to the building’s symmetrical harmony.
An equestrian statue of Étienne Marcel, sculpted by Antonin Idrac, was unveiled on July 14, 1888, on the river side.
Directions: 4th District
Metro: Hôtel de Ville on Lines 1, 11
Coordinates Hotel de Ville: Lat 48.856483 – Long 2.352414
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Building after the Paris Commune by The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whitteley Fund, 1959 Public domain
