Town Hall

The building in front of you is Beaune’s town hall, a place with a long and layered history. Originally founded in 1626 as a convent for the Ursuline nuns, it was created to educate young girls in a time when schooling was still a privilege. After the French Revolution, like many religious buildings, it was seized and declared national property. In 1793, the town purchased it and turned it into the seat of local government. A fire in 1815 damaged part of the roof, prompting renovations to adapt the former convent to its new civic role. The façade you see today, with its symmetrical arcades and sculpted pediment, dates back to the early 19th century. The decorative tympanum, added in 1818, reflects the values of the new Republic and marks the building’s transformation into a centre of public life. For over a century, part of the site also housed Beaune’s Museum of Fine Arts before the collection was moved elsewhere. Even now, the town hall is very much alive, hosting council meetings, civil ceremonies and official events. Listed as a historic monument since 1946, it’s a perfect example of Beaune’s ability to reinvent itself—turning a place of quiet devotion into a space for civic dialogue, all without losing its charm or memory. Take a moment to enjoy the cobbled courtyard and the elegant façades, and picture the life of this building—from the hushed routines of the convent to the lively debates of today.