In 1581, after more than two centuries in existence, the aldermen's office acquired a vast Gothic mansion on the Place du Marché-aux-Blés (now the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville). In addition to the municipal administration, the new town hall housed the court and, soon, the royal prisons. It was the fire in the latter that led to the total reconstruction of the building from 1774 onwards. Under the direction of Nicolas Durand, architect for the Champagne region, the new town hall took over and combined the municipal, judicial and prison functions of the old town hall. The royal prisons were rebuilt behind the building. The central part of the facade, with its overhanging projection, imposing colonnade and pediment, is the main feature. This section survived the fire that destroyed the rest of the building in December 1892. In the pediment, the acronym RF (République Française) replaced the royal coat of arms burnt down during the Revolution; however, the same angels bear the republican shield!
A little background information:
The office of mayor could entail certain risks:
- On 10 December 1575, during the Wars of Religion, "the mayor was allowed to bring two men with halberds or harquebuses to guard and secure his person while he was away on town business".
- In November 1605, the mayor went to the Place Chambeau (now the Place Diderot) in the company of the police judge, "being informed that great sedition and discord were taking place with the carrying of weapons... they would soon have been attacked by eight or ten men each, with swords in their hands, crying: kill, kill!... who, continuing their efforts, would have mortally wounded the aforementioned police judge, the servant of the aforementioned mayor and wounded the aforementioned Noirot (mayor)...".
Hôtel de Ville de Langres
