Travel Tips

Initially, this site was named Place de Grève (the Strand) because a bank goes slightly to the Seine.

The workers looking for an employ gathered here and the masters knew they might find somebody here to a temporary or permanent job. The French expression "faire la grève" (to go on strike) was created here since the workers who stayed on the Place were unemployed.

Have a look for the statue on the left of the building. It is Etienne Marcel, the provost, who defended the Communal Liberties and was murdered during the One Hundred Years War. He is considered as the first Revolutionaire.

The current building, erected during the 16° Century, was arsoned by the Communards the 24 mai 1871 and was completly destroyed. All the Parisian vital statistics desapeared by the fire.

It was reconstructed in the same style.

In Winter, the place de l'Hôtel de Ville is occupied by a free skating rink.

It is one of the main festive places of Paris : the 14 July (Bastille Day), the Music Fest (21 June), the New Year Eve or when France wins (for the first time) the football World Cup.

The year round something occures here. Kids, youngsters and adults will find a feast atmosphere.

On Xmas there are one free carrousel per arrondissement.

On Friday evening, the roller skaters and bicycle riders gather at a meeting point and cross Paris.
The picture was shot during the "nuit Blanche" of October 2004. All the night several monuments are open and numerous pedestrians roam by the streets. The metro is on duty all the night.