Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Town Hall of Cahors consists of two separate buildings. The first, consisting of two 17th century houses, preserves architectural elements of the Renaissance, such as characteristic doors and windows. These houses were acquired by the city in 1642 to temporarily house the Court of Aids, before becoming the seat of the town hall in 1686 after a fire had destroyed the former consular house. The door of the latter, dated from the first half of the seventeenth century, was resettled in 1693 at the entrance of the new town hall.

The second building, built between 1837 and 1847 on Gambetta Boulevard, was designed by municipal architect Charles Hector Malo. Made of cut stone, it completes the ensemble by integrating into the 19th century urban fabric. The building was partially listed as historic monuments in 1975 for its facades and roofs, testifying to its heritage importance. Medieval remains, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, also remain in the structure.

The town hall thus illustrates the architectural and administrative evolution of Cahors, mixing medieval heritage, modifications of the modern era and transformations of the 19th century. Its history reflects the city's growing need for institutional spaces, marked by fires, reconstructions and functional adaptations over the centuries.

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