Falaise in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
L'Hôtel de Ville
⎯⎯⎯
The Town Hall
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. L'Hôtel de Ville / The Town Hall Marker
L'Hôtel de Ville a été construit entre 1780 et 1786 d'après les plans de l'architecte Nicolas Gondouin.
Troisième hôtel de ville de Falaise, il témoigne de la prospérité de la cité à la veille de la Révolution. En façade le rez-de-chaussée, traité volontairement de manière très sobre, permet de souligner, sans distraire le regard, le premier étage et son balcon à colonnade supportant un fronton triangulaire. Ce premier étage est l'étage « noble », utilisé pour les réceptions et les réunions plénières du conseil municipal, Ce traitement de la façade ainsi que la position du bâtiment à l'extrémité de la place lui confère un caractère monumental.
Cet édifice néoclassique réalisé en pierres de tailles est caractéristique des commandes publiques de cette époque.
Légendes
(Photo #1) Atlas Galeron 1826. Archives de la médiathèque du Pays de Falaise.
(Photo #2) Carte postale, archives de la Médiathèque du Pays de Falaise.
(Photo #3) L'Hôtel de ville dessiné par Bourgeois en 1872. Archives de la Médiathèque du Pays de Falaise.
The Hôtel de Ville was built between 1780 and 1786 according to plans drafted by the architect Nicolas Gondouin.
It is Falaise's third town hall and bears witness to the city's prosperity prior to the French Revolution.
The facade's lower floor is voluntarily sober, hence highlighting, without for as much drawing overt attention to the first floor with its colonnade balcony supporting a triangular pediment. This first level is the "noble" floor, used for receptions and town council plenary sessions. This attention to the facade, together with the building's location at the extremity of the square, confer the edifice a monumental nature.
This neoclassical freestone construction is typical of the period's publicly commissioned buildings.
Captions
(Photo #1) Galeron Atlas, 1826. Archives of the Falaise Region Media Library.
(Photo #2) Postcard, archives of the Falaise Region Media Library.
(Photo #3) The Town Hall, designed by Bourgeois in 1872. Archives of the Falaise Region Media Library.
Erected by Ville
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.
Location. 48° 53.637′ N, 0° 12.111′ W. Marker is in Falaise, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Pl. Guillaume le Conquérant just north of Rue Blacher, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located in the center of the plaza. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Falaise, Normandie 14700, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Guillaume le Conquérant / William the Conqueror (a few steps from this marker); La bataille de Normandie / The Battle of Normandy (within shouting distance of this marker); Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant / William the Conqueror’s Castle (within shouting distance
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. The Town Hall and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
