Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The first town hall in Lons-le-Saunier was built in 1680, but it was in 1733 that a more ambitious project was created: a new building integrating court and prisons, authorized on the ruins of the Chalon castle. The plans, drawn by the engineer of Eguthail, were executed between 1735 and 1746 under the direction of Jean Querret, with a grain hall added in 1753. The ensemble adopted a square plane around a courtyard, marked by two angular pavilions and lateral forebody.

Between 1845 and 1853, expansion works were carried out by architects Lambert and Paillot, who integrated a library in the west wing – rebuilt after damage – and half-circle halls, now missing. The building retains remarkable elements such as the large three-flyed stone staircase, the panelling of the old hall of the commercial court, and the 19th century facilities of the library. The building, classified as a Historic Monument in 1999, reflects the evolution of municipal and judicial functions.

Originally built by Jean François de l'Egoutille and Jean-Pierre Galezot, the town hall was modified in the 19th century by Achilles Paillot, a municipal architect, to house a museum, a library room, and a court. Its strategic location, on the former Chalon fortress, highlights its historic importance in the city. The interior decorations, such as those of the council hall or the mayor's office, reflect the prestige of local institutions throughout the centuries.

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