Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The City Hall of Laon occupies the site of the old house of the King's Plaids, where the provost of the city did justice in the Middle Ages. Although the work may date back to this period, the oldest visible elements are the windows of the south wall of the central body, dating back to the 1st quarter of the 16th century. This building thus illustrates a superposition of architectural periods, mixing medieval remains and subsequent transformations.

Between 1702 and 1705, major works were carried out under the direction of master mason Jean Marest, including the reconstruction of the structural staircase, equipped with a ramp in ironwork signed by the locksmith Jacques Leclerq. These arrangements replace an old wooden screw staircase, whose remains remain in the cellars. The monumental portal, completed in 1736, is the work of the mason Louis Maillefert and the sculptor Forest, both from the region. This limestone portal, surmounted by a wood-paned gallery, marks the main entrance and bears witness to the 18th century's fascist.

The building belongs to the City of Laon from 1702, until the French Revolution. In 1794, it became a national property in exchange for the former royal palace, then sold to individuals in the early 19th century. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1921 for its portal, the Town Hall retains traces of its medieval judicial functions, while embodying the urban and political evolutions of Laon under the Old Regime and the Revolution.

The facades on the south courtyard, in limestone, contrast with the walls in stone coated with other buildings. The whole reflects a complex history, where seigneurial justice, municipal power and architectural heritage intersect. The presence of a remarkable staircase and a wooden gallery also highlights the ingenuity of local artisans, between tradition and innovation.

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