Cet article est paru en français le 9 août 2009.
I have recently explained in English how the 4th arrondissement is governed (post published on April, 9th ). The district Hall of the 4th arrondissement was built under Napoleon III (1852-1870). Indeed, in 1860, administrative zoning of Paris was profoundly transformed by Haussman who was "préfet of Paris" (the representative of government). He decided to integrate into Paris surrounding villages and to establish a new zoning policy. The limits of the current 4th arrondissement were decided then.
Nevertheless, it is surprising, despite the proclamation of the Republic in 1870, three years after the inauguration of the District Hall, the sign which pays tribute to the Emperor who decided to have it constructed and the initials "N.B." for Napoleon Bonaparte were not removed from the wall of the courtyard.
Contrarily to the City Hall of Paris (which is really close), the District Hall of the 4th arrondissement was not destroyed during by the Communards in 1871.
Thanks to that we can admire every month, the wedding room of the District Hall which is characterized by the lightness and the good taste of Napoleon III's style (I find it really clumsy). Indeed, this is where the District concil takes place. The next one will be on ...
Other precisions :
- the initials "N.B." are interlaced with an "E" to remind us of the first name of the Empress Eugenie de Montijo who married Napoleon III.
- a few settings of the inner District Hall were destroyed by the Communards and the current ones date from the 1880's.
This post was published in French on August 9th, 2009.
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