Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The town hall of Vézelise was built in the 13th century, with halls attested by 1272, enlarged in the 15th century. These wooden structures, which had become obsolete, were entirely rebuilt from 1599 onwards under the impulse of Duke Charles III of Lorraine. The architect Nicolas la Hiere directs the works, using oaks from the forests of Vaudémont and stones from Houdreville. The hall, on two levels, houses shops, audience and attic, while five houses are expropriated to expand the central location. The work was completed around 1601, with joint funding from the local community and the Duke.

In 1735, the architect Claude Thomas Gentillâtre added an east pavilion for the town hall, balancing the composition with the existing audience. In 1764, the engineer Deklier-Delille rebuilt the latter without changing its judicial function, active until the abolition of the justices of peace. The clock comes from the Capuchin convent. Damaged by a bombardment in 1940, the whole was restored to its original state. The materials — oak, flat stone, state-of-the-art tiles — bear witness to local resources (forests, quarries in Houdreville, tilery in Goviller).

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1942, the building retains its medieval structure despite the additions of the 18th century. The hall, almost intact, illustrates the civil architecture of Lorrain, mixing market functions (shops, public weight), judicial (audience) and symbolic (community house). Its central location, inherited from the medieval halls, reflects the pivotal role of Vézelise as a place of trade and ducal power in Lorraine.

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