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# The proverb about the 13th arrondissement town hall in Paris and the history of the building
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/u-frantsuzov-est-takaia-poslovitsa-zhenitsia-v-merii-13-okruga/
- Published: 2024-04-15T10:03:32.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:45:10.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Architecture, Heritage, Mores, Paris

The French have a saying: to be married at the town hall of the 13th arrondissement. It means to live outside lawful wedlock. For until 1860 Paris had only 12 arrondissements.

The 13th arrondissement appeared only in 1867, when construction of its town hall began. The building took 10 years to complete, was extended in 1893, and has very recently been restored, with its original decoration fully reinstated.

Here is how the wedding hall of the mairie of the 13th arrondissement looks: forty metres long, sixteen wide, twelve high, with imposing bronze chandeliers, tall stained-glass windows, stucco, paintings, and decorative cartouches for each district

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_11913@15-04-2024_13-03-32.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_11914@15-04-2024_13-03-32.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_11915@15-04-2024_13-03-32.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_11916@15-04-2024_13-03-32.jpg)