Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The city hall of Benfeld, classified as a historic monument since 1929, is an emblematic civil building located in the town hall in the Lower Rhine. Its construction began in 1531, as evidenced by an inscription, at a time when Benfeld was under the influence of Strasbourg, whose coats of arms still appear on its façade. This building reflects the city's political and cultural ties to the city of Strasbourg in the 16th century, a period marked by Alsace's territorial commitment to the Holy Empire.

In 1619, a sandstone staircase turret replaced an exterior staircase, a work attributed to the masterpiece Ascagne (Albertini), illustrating the architectural evolutions of the period. As early as 1605, the ground floor houses a guard room, while in 1786 the original screw staircase was replaced by a wooden structure, as evidenced by the inscriptions kept. The major restorations, carried out in 1865 and 1950, preserve its facades and clock tower, elements protected by the 1929 decree. A statue of Virgin with Child, once present on the facade, was moved in 1795, reflecting revolutionary upheavals.

The monument also incorporates modern stained glass windows with the weapons of the canton's municipalities, adding a symbolic dimension to its heritage. Its exact location, although documented (place de la Mairie and 2 Rue Clemenceau), suffers from geographical accuracy deemed mediocre (level 5/10). A communal property, city hall remains a witness to the urban and political transformations of Benfeld, from the Renaissance to the contemporary era.

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