Opposite the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church, the former town hall of the 1st arrondissement of Paris stands out with its ecclesiastical architecture. Why would a civic building adopt the design language of a church? As you pass through Place du Louvre, it's hard not to notice the striking resemblance between Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois and the building opposite. For a long time, this second structure actually served as the town hall of the 1st arrondissement of Paris.
At first glance, however, its architecture doesn’t immediately suggest an administrative building! With a façade punctuated by arches, pronounced verticality, and a definitive Gothic style, this resemblance is no coincidence. It reflects a deliberate architectural choice deeply rooted in the urban history of the neighborhood.
The former town hall of the 1st arrondissement was built between 1858 and 1860, during the height of the Second Empire, amid a rapidly changing Paris. At that time, Place du Louvre was being redesigned to create a grand, cohesive urban space.
The goal is clear: to create a visual harmony among the public buildings. The Church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, already a historic and iconic structure, serves as a reference point. The town hall then adopts a Neo-Gothic style, directly inspired by medieval religious architecture, to form a balanced ensemble with the church and its neighboring bell tower. It's not about imbuing the town hall with religious significance but rather about ensuring architectural unity across the site.
For over a century, the building has housed the municipal services of the 1st arrondissement, hosting civil marriages and arrondissement council meetings, all while remaining closely linked to the historic heart of Paris. Since 2020, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements have been consolidated into Paris-Center. As a result, the former town hall of the 1st arrondissement no longer functions as an independent mairie.
But the story of this building doesn’t end there. Since 2021, it has been repurposed as a “Quartier Jeunes (QJ)”, a center for support and resources for young people aged 16 to 30.
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Location
1st floor town hall
4 Place du Louvre
75001 Paris 1
Access
Metro Louvre-Rivoli - Line 1 Bus: 69 and 76 Vélib' stations n°1011, 1025, 1009, 1010















