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Origin and history

The City Hall of Tourcoing, built between 1866 and 1885, replaces an old 16th-century echevinal hall and an 18th-century town hall, which became too small for a city in full industrial expansion. This monument reflects the demographic and economic growth of Tourcoing, which grew from 12,000 to 40,000 inhabitants between the 18th and 19th centuries. Its location, shifted from the traditional GrandPlace, was criticized for its remoteness perceived as "in the countryside".

The initial project, entrusted to the Parisian architect Léon Rohard after a national competition in 1861, was considered too ambitious. A second competition in 1862 finally identified Charles Maillard, a local architect whose plans combined French classicism and Flemish ornaments. The work, slowed down by budgetary constraints, was completed in 1885, with posthumous changes supervised by Louis Le Blan after the death of Maillard in 1875.

The facade, organized on three levels, combines ionic and Corinthian orders, alternating bosses, and allegorical sculptures (cariates, antelots, garlands). The central dome, inspired by Flemish belfries, dominates a square renamed Victor Hassebroucq. Inside, centered on a zenithal hall, houses rooms dedicated to justice of peace, marriages, and municipal council. The interior decorations, completed between 1905 and 1912, complete this building inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1981.

The former town hall, disused in 1885, was transformed into a trading exchange before being razed in 1900. The new building, aligned with the former Chamber of Commerce (belfry), symbolizes Tourcoing's transition to industrial modernity, while anchoring its architectural identity in the Flemish heritage. Today, there remains a central place in civic life and a testimony to the urban heritage of Hauts-de-France.

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