Tours Town Hall

Tours Town Hall

Many beautiful Town Halls in France are re-jiggled châteaux which were built for royalty and the upper crust. Not so Tours. This grandiose palace - no exaggeration - fit for a king, was built by the people (the Council) for the people.

The exterior is awesome but the interior, created by France’s finest masons, carpenters, sculptors and painters is absolutely jaw dropping.

Entrance Lobby, Tours Town Hall

Bearing in mind that in 1904 when the town hall opened, many lived in poverty, the visitor’s* initial reaction (me) is to smile imagining their reaction when they crossed the threshold to pay La Foncière and saw that staircase! At least they could see where their francs went. Local architect Victor Laloux gave them and their descendants something to be proud of.

A small section of the Salle des Fêtes Ceiling, Tours Town Hall

Building started in 1896 during La Belle Époque. France was the cultural centre of the world but how on earth did Tours pay for it? Where did the money come from?

Trains.

The arrival of the railways made and still makes Tours a cardinal point, an important centre for commerce. It became so prosperous, its stunning public buildings were built or rebuilt between 1840 and 1900.

Tours Railway Station

Then there was tourism. Victor Laloux’s fabulous new, equally prestigious station gave and still gives the world access to Tours and the magnificent Chateaux of the Loire Valley.

* Tours available on certain dates only. Contact Tours Town Hall for details, Tel: 02 47 21 60 00.

Post by Pamela (BA History of Art), Photography by Mark.

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