{"id":208445,"date":"2026-01-31T07:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/2026\/01\/31\/hotel-de-ville-de-paris-in-1871-a-fire-ravaged-the-building-heres-what-it-looked-like-before-the-fire\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T07:44:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:44:14","slug":"hotel-de-ville-de-paris-in-1871-a-fire-ravaged-the-building-heres-what-it-looked-like-before-the-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2026\/01\/31\/hotel-de-ville-de-paris-in-1871-a-fire-ravaged-the-building-heres-what-it-looked-like-before-the-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"H\u00f4tel de Ville de Paris: in 1871, a fire ravaged the building. Here’s what it looked like before the fire."},"content":{"rendered":"

At the heart of the capital, the H\u00f4tel de Ville de Paris<\/a> bears scars that are both old and visible. However, a major fire struck the building in 1871<\/strong>, permanently altering its use and image. Here, we trace its past forms, then its rebirth in republican and urban France. <\/p>\n

Before the flames: a Renaissance civic palace<\/h2>\n

Initially, the town hall was located on the Place de Gr\u00e8ve<\/strong>, close to the merchant quays. In the 16th century<\/strong>, Fran\u00e7ois I commissioned Boccador, anItalian-inspired<\/a> architect, to build a palace. It was here that the city established taxes, debates, public posters and a nascent municipal power. <\/p>\n

Construction began around 1533<\/strong> and was completed around 1628<\/strong>, following the rhythm of the reigns. The facade is a blend of gables, dormers, broken roofs and tall chimneys, crowned with slate. The carved stone also tells the story of the town, with coats of arms, mottos and civic scenes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

May 1871: the rupture<\/h3>\n

In May 1871<\/strong>, the Commune set fire to several strategic buildings, including ministries and town halls. The H\u00f4tel de Ville de Paris<\/a> partially collapsed, and the archives went up in smoke. Despite rescue efforts, the blaze soon ravaged roofs, frameworks and decorations. <\/p>\n

“The fire changed the city’s memory, without extinguishing its life.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a result, thousands of registers disappeared, including invaluable records of family and urban history. As a result, town halls had to start from scratch, in a hurry, with few points of reference. As a result, families lose civil status records, which are essential for the administrative process. <\/p>\n

The Third Republic launched a competition to rebuild the symbolic H\u00f4tel de Ville de Paris. The public authorities then set an ambitious timetable and a budget to secure. Work began in 1873<\/strong> and was completed in 1882<\/strong>, after a major collective effort. <\/p>\n