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Origin and history

The city hall of Bethune, originally built in 1811, was completely destroyed during the German bombings of May 1918 during the First World War. After four days of fire, only the medieval belfry of 1388 resisted, leaving the Grand'Place in ruins. The reconstruction of the city became a priority after the armistice, with debates on the location of the future city hall: some, like architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier, proposed to center it around the belfry, but the municipality demanded its return to the original location.

In 1924, a contest for reconstruction was launched, won by Jacques Alleman. Forced by a narrow plot (15 m wide), it adopted an Art Deco style and incorporated commemorative symbols, such as the Legion of Honour and the Cross of War, awarded to the city in 1919 by Raymond Poincaré. The building, made of reinforced concrete with a white stone base, was inaugurated on 7 April 1929. Its decorative elements — stained glass in marbled slabs, ironwork and mosaics — earned it a ranking at the Historical Monuments on October 4, 2001.

The architecture of Alleman reflects a stylistic unit with the other buildings of the square, centered on a staircase of honor illuminated by a well of light topped by a dome-shaped window. This project marked the revival of Bethune, combining modernity and homage to the sacrifices of war. Today, the city hall remains a symbol of reconstruction and local identity, rooted in the urban history of the Hauts-de-France.

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