Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Town Hall of Astaffort replaces an old 16th or 17th century building, which served both as a common house for consuls and jurats under the Old Regime, and as a hall for a poultry and grain market. In 1903, the decision was taken to destroy this old town hall. The new Town Hall, designed by the architect Albert Courau, was erected at its site and inaugurated on 11 December 1904. The project also includes the drilling of a street to the south, freeing space around the building.

The building is inspired by its predecessor by placing the town hall on the first floor, supported by arcades on three sides. The ground floor, open, welcomes the markets, while the east facade, main, has a marked symmetry: triple opening, medallions "R" and "F", ionic pilasters, and a baroque fronton adorned with a clock, communal weapons, and republican motto. The north and south facades, pierced by arcades and rectangular bays, complete the whole. The parvis, lined with geometric motifs, rests on four metal pillars stamped "Granges et cie, Agen".

The interior is organized around a circular gallery overlooking the courtyard, serving the municipal halls. This gallery, with carved wooden ramps, surrounds a vast open space covered with a glass roof carried by a metal frame. The Council Hall, keeping its original decor with two fireplaces, contrasts with the rest of the renovated spaces. A staircase leads to the roof, highlighting the practical and symbolic function of the building.

In 1928, neighbouring houses were abolished to build a square, completing the urban transformation initiated in 1903. The Town Hall, classified as Historic Monument in 2022, illustrates the evolution of public spaces at the beginning of the twentieth century, mixing architectural heritage and republican modernity.

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