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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The town hall of Epinay-sur-Seine has occupied since 1908 the former seigneurial hotel of the fief d'Ormesson, the only vestige of the historic castles of the city after the disappearance of the castle of the Briche in 1870. Built between 1756 and 1760 for the Marquis du Terrail, son of a rich financier, the building adopts a plan in the form of "T", symbol of its owner. Its facades, decorated with mascarons representing the four continents on the arch keys of the windows of the west wing, illustrate the architectural elegance of the eighteenth century. The building was thoroughly renovated between 1881 and 1889 by the architect Bouwens, who added marquises in particular.

Acquired in 1881 by François d'Assisi de Bourbon, king-consort of Spain in exile, the castle became his residence until his death in 1902. In 1906, Mayor Georges Thibout bought the estate for 210,000 francs, before selling it to the commune for 50,000 francs, with one hectare of its park. The town hall officially installed in 1908, and the council hall, decorated in 1911, still retains protected heritage elements since 1987, such as the two lounges, their decor, as well as the staircase and its cage.

The seigneurial hotel also embodies the social history of Épinay-sur-Seine. Georges Thibout offered the communes of the castle to establish a public kindergarten, while the concierge's house was transformed into a Warriors' House after the Second World War. This monument, partially classified as Historical Monuments, thus symbolizes both the architectural heritage of the region and the urban and social changes of the municipality in the 20th century.

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