City Hall

Nantes city hall, a symbol of the city

The Nantes audio-guided tour has you discover, sheltered behind its wrought-iron gate, the fine city hall. This group of buildings, which houses the mayor's offices, the municipal council and various administrative services, has been a strong symbol of Nantes identity for centuries.

From the House of Engines to the city hall

The creation of a city hall in Nantes goes back to 1410, when Duke John V of Brittany authorised the creation of a town council: a group of bourgeois meeting with representatives of the king in the House of Engines, on Place du Bouffay. In 1491, the marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany closely linked the fate of Brittany to that of France. The king then gave the town council a house on Place du Change, the hôtel de la prévôté, named after the provost who administered justice and collected taxes.

What there is to see

The city hall consists of several buildings from different periods, arranged around courtyards and protected by a fine wrought-iron gate. Its stone façades, its slate roofs and its inner courtyards bear witness to the administrative history of the city. It is a witness to the attachment of Nantes to its institutions, through a history intimately linked to that of the Duchy of Brittany.

Practical information

Nantes city hall is on Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, in the heart of the city centre. The façades and courtyards can be contemplated from the public space; the reception of the public for administrative formalities follows the town hall's own opening hours, generally on weekdays.

Since when has Nantes had a city hall?

The creation of a town council goes back to 1410, under Duke John V of Brittany, before the installation in several successive buildings.

What does the city hall house today?

It houses the mayor's offices, the municipal council and various administrative services of the commune of Nantes.