The Hôtel de Ville, Paris's city hall, is the center of political Paris. Like Paris, it has been through some turbulent times.
In 1246 the first municipality was created when the Parisian trade guilds elected aldermen as representatives towards the King. There was no municipal building until 1357 when one of the aldermen, a water merchant, bought a house near the place de Grève.
The two-storied building featured two towers and arcades. Known as the House of Pillars, it served as a meeting place for the aldermen.
In 1553 King Francis I decided to build a dedicated city Hall. That first Hôtel de Ville, designed in the Renaissance style, was only fully completed in 1628.