Transfer rue Soubeiranne 1534 (≈ 1534)
First stable facility of the consular house.
1682
Moving Place Saint-Jean
Moving Place Saint-Jean 1682 (≈ 1682)
New seat before the current construction.
1732
Construction decision
Construction decision 1732 (≈ 1732)
Joint city/diocese project for a new hotel.
1741
Flooding
Flooding 1741 (≈ 1741)
Interruption of work in progress.
1749-1755
Completion of work
Completion of work 1749-1755 (≈ 1752)
Construction and final interior development.
1859
Replacement of the bell
Replacement of the bell 1859 (≈ 1859)
Installation of a clock dial.
1963
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1963 (≈ 1963)
Front and roof protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façade on the square (including wrought iron balcony and vantals of the door) and corresponding roof (Box F 1405): inscription by decree of 22 July 1963
Key figures
Rollin - Architect
Initial project designer (1732).
Saussine - Adjudicator
Reprinted the site in 1749.
Consuls d'Alès - Municipal sponsors
Decided the expansion of the door (1750).
Origin and history
The city hall of Alès has its origins in the growing administrative needs of the city in the 18th century. Initially, the consular house – the seat of municipal power – occupied several places: near a gate of the city in the Middle Ages, then in 1534 Subeiranne Street, before being transferred in 1682 Saint John Square. The lack of space, particularly to accommodate the diocesan plate (ecclesiastical tax), prompted the consuls and the diocese to jointly finance a new building in 1732. The architect Rollin was in charge of the project, but the works, interrupted by the flood of 1741, only resumed in 1749 under the direction of the Saussine successful tenderer.
Rollin's initial project, ambitious with horseshoe wings, was simplified for budgetary reasons: wing suppression, the addition of side courts, and the reconstruction of the façade. The work was completed in 1752, but the interior layout continued until 1755. The facade, sober but elegant, features a forebody framed with splits and surmounted by a triangular pediment. The entrance door, enlarged in 1750 at the request of the consuls, is decorated with rock sculptures and pilasters. Inside, the column hall and iron staircase – with its volute ramp – bear witness to the care given to the decorations.
Ranked a historic monument in 1963 for its facade, wrought iron balcony and roof, the city hall embodies the alliance between municipal and religious power in modern times. Its clock, added in 1859 to replace a bell, marks an adaptation to the practical needs of the nineteenth century. Today, it remains a symbol of the administrative and architectural history of Alès, while sheltering local institutions.
The sources also mention technical details, such as the dome of the stairwell adorned with gypsum, or pendants decorated with motifs. The precise location, 9 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, confirms its anchoring in the heart of the city, while its status as communal property guarantees its preservation.
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