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l'Hôtel de Ville de Calais

World Heritage (UNESCO) ,  Historic site and monument ,  Town, village, neighbourhood in Calais
  • Located in the heart of the city, the town hall is a building by architect Louis Debrouwer, one of the first to use reinforced concrete. Its construction symbolises the union between two cities: Saint-Pierre and Calais, dating from 1885. The building site, begun in 1911, was interrupted in 1914 by the war. Restoration of the damage and completion of the work delayed the inauguration of the building until 1925, which was damaged again in 1940.

    The building is made up of three main parts:
    -...
    Located in the heart of the city, the town hall is a building by architect Louis Debrouwer, one of the first to use reinforced concrete. Its construction symbolises the union between two cities: Saint-Pierre and Calais, dating from 1885. The building site, begun in 1911, was interrupted in 1914 by the war. Restoration of the damage and completion of the work delayed the inauguration of the building until 1925, which was damaged again in 1940.

    The building is made up of three main parts:
    - The main body, whose façade faces west.
    - The belfry (accessible summit) culminates at 75 m and contains the clock with four dials and a carillon.
    - The square turret on the south side of the structure with its bell tower.

    The large staircase leading to the first floor, where the wedding hall and the large lounge are located, is decorated with magnificent stained glass windows. They trace over three bays the liberation of Calais from English domination by the Duke of Guise in 1558. The town hall is famous for having hosted the lively wedding of General de Gaulle and Yvonne Vendroux in 1921.