Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Mâcon Town Hall, also known as the Montrevel Hotel, is a former mansion built between 1746 and 1751 by Abel-Michel Chesnard de Layé, local lord and lieutenant general of the Mâconnais. The latter, from a noble family, handed him over in 1753 to his son, Pierre-Anne Chesnard de Layé, then adviser to the Parliament of Burgundy. The building, of classic style, reflected the prestige of its first owners, incorporating refined architectural elements such as woodwork and a wrought iron ramp.

In 1767 Count Florent-Alexandre-Melchior de La Baume, the last representative of the Montrevel family, acquired the hotel for 75,000 pounds and expanded by adding two wings. In particular, there is a room in the Comedy (future hall of the City Council), equipped with a floor, orchestra and lodges, testifying to its worldly and cultural use. The French Revolution marked a turning point: in 1793 the city of Mâcon purchased the building to become its city hall, sealing its public destiny.

In the 19th century, under the mandate of Mayor François Martin, two new wings were built in 1880 on Rue Carnot, structuring a courtyard opening on Place Saint-Pierre. The building preserves traces of its aristocratic past, such as the woodwork of the wedding salon or the medallions of ancient philosophers in the old library. He has been a member of the historical monuments since 1941, and today he embodies both the architectural heritage of the Enlightenment and the civic life of Mâconnais.

The official protection mainly concerns the façade on the east wharf and wings, highlighting their heritage value. The town hall, a communal property, remains a symbolic place, combining administrative functions and historical memory, as evidenced by its preserved interior elements (scenes, entrance hall) and its central role in the city.

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