The first female mayor of Paris has taken office, hailing a "great advance for all women" and saying she felt the weight of responsibility in her new job.

Anne Hidalgo donned the red, white and blue mayoral sash after at a City Hall vote enshrining her victory in the capital as part of nationwide municipal elections on March 30.

Hidalgo noted that very few women were mayors of major world cities, but said her victory showed "parity is on the march". The unassuming, Spanish-born 54-year-old takes over from previous mayor Bernard Delanoe, her long-time mentor.