Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Gray City Hall, listed as a Historic Monument in 1886, is considered one of the most prestigious Renaissance buildings in Franche-Comté. Its construction began in 1567 under the direction of the bisontin architect Richard Maire, with the mason François Moris as masterpiece. The ornaments of the facade, made of stone, are the work of the sculptor Jean Prévost, while the gargoyles, now disappeared, were executed in 1571 by Pierre Symonin. In the same year, the windows were created by Jehan de Castille, and the building was blessed by the Abbé de Corneux. The entrance door, dated 1568, symbolically marks the beginning of the work.

In the 18th century, the town hall underwent minor interior arrangements to accommodate the presidial, with estimates drawn up by Lerondelle (1742), Julien Marcel Vassaux (1752) and Jean Querret-du-Bois (1754). In 1837, a major restoration was undertaken by architect Christophe Colard and painter Charles Couché, transforming the original staircase into a three-fold staircase. The building was also enlarged between 1858 and 1859 to install a library, while the town's weapons, carved by Constant Grandgirard, replaced the old coat of arms in 1859.

Among the remarkable elements, the monogram "AR" engraved on a window on the first floor and a sundial, probably added in the 19th century, testify to the successive evolution of the monument. The plans of Lerondelle (1742) also reveal the initial existence of a large two-fold staircase, modified during the 19th century works. The building, owned by the municipality, today embodies both the Renaissance architectural heritage and the subsequent adaptations related to its administrative functions.

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