Clermont-Ferrand’s City Hall

The town hall, in Clermont-Ferrand

The town hall of Clermont-Ferrand is an imposing building of the nineteenth century, built in Volvic stone, that shelters the services of the city hall. The Clermont-Ferrand audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this building raised on the site of the former palais de Boulogne, offered long ago to the city by Catherine de Médicis, that then gathered town house, courthouse and prison.

History

This imposing building is the town hall of Clermont-Ferrand, raised in Volvic stone by the architect Louis-Charles-François Ledru. It occupies the site of a formerly historic building, the palais de Boulogne, offered to the city by Catherine de Médicis in person, that then gathered the town house, the courthouse and the prison. Judged too dilapidated to continue ensuring its functions, the palais de Boulogne was razed to give way to the current town hall, built in the first half of the nineteenth century. The building today shelters the services of the city hall of Clermont-Ferrand. Its façade, sober and solid, cut in the dark volcanic stone characteristic of the region, makes it one of the striking public buildings of the city centre and the seat of municipal life.

What to see

Here you admire the imposing town hall of Clermont-Ferrand, built in the nineteenth century in Volvic stone by the architect Ledru; it rises on the site of the former palais de Boulogne, offered by Catherine de Médicis and that gathered long ago town house, justice and prison, and shelters today the services of the city hall. The town hall is a striking public building of the centre. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The town hall of Clermont-Ferrand lies in the centre, reachable on foot. You admire its façade from the street; it is an administrative building in activity, whose access follows the opening hours of the municipal services, which vary. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What was there before the town hall of Clermont-Ferrand?

On its site stood the palais de Boulogne, offered to the city by Catherine de Médicis, that then gathered the town house, the courthouse and the prison; judged too dilapidated, it was razed and replaced in the nineteenth century by the current town hall, built in Volvic stone by the architect Louis-Charles-François Ledru.

Where is the town hall in Clermont-Ferrand?

In the centre of Clermont-Ferrand, in France.