Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The town hall of Calais was built after the merger of the communes of Calais and Saint-Pierre in 1885. A first architectural contest in 1887 referred to Paul Wallon's project, but its cost led to abandonment. In 1901, the municipality revived the project with Ernest Decroix, ranked fourth in 1887, associated with Edmond Douillet. After delays and the death of Decroix, Louis Debrouwer resumed work in 1911, adding a belfry and using reinforced concrete. The First World War interrupted the construction, and the inauguration took place only in 1925.

The building, in the Flemish neo-renaissance style in red bricks, incorporates Art Deco interiors and historicists. Its iconic 72-metre belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The facades, roofs, the hall of honour with its glass roof, and the halls of appartment (marriage room, honorary lounge) have been protected as historical monuments since 2003. The glass of the honorary staircase illustrates the capture of Calais by the Duke of Guise.

The painted decorations, made by regional artists between 1924 and 1925, combine local influences and historicist style. The building, owned by the commune, symbolizes the reconstruction and urban identity of Calais after the destruction of the war. Its architecture and belfry make it a major landmark of the Hauts-de-France, alongside the 22 other belfries classified by UNESCO in the region.

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