Hotel de Ville Exhibitions — Robert Doisneau and Jean-Jacques Sempé

The Hotel de Ville de Paris, the majestic city hall of Paris, is hosting a free photographic exhibition of Robert Doisneau through April 28. Doisneau, perhaps France’s most celebrated photographer, is best known for capturing street life of the streets of Paris through his Leica camera. The exhibition at Hotel de Ville showcases photos of Les Halles, the venerable wholesale marketplace, that until 1971 was the primary destination for restaurants and shopkeepers to buy fresh produce, meat, seafood, and flowers.

The exhibition will bring to life the unique photos of Doisneau, at Les Halles, where Julia Child shopped during her venerable days while in Paris. The site of this exhibition, at Hotel de Ville, makes the visit all the more special, as outside is a carousel that children can play on and across the street is the famous department store, BHV.

Luckily, through March 31, Hotel de Ville is also showcasing an exhibition of Jean-Jacques Sempé, one of France’s most beloved cartoonists. Both exhibitions are free.