Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, Pedestrian zone in central Auxerre, France
The Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is a pedestrian square at the center of Auxerre, lined with old stone buildings and anchored by the town hall. The town hall itself has a plain Tuscan-style facade with a staircase at the front and a clock visible from the square.
In 1452, the city's residents obtained permission to build a proper town hall on this site, replacing the makeshift spaces previously used by local officials. The current building dates to 1733, when it was reconstructed and the first stone was laid by the mayor of the time.
The Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is where people in Auxerre tend to pass through or linger during the day, especially near the cafes that line the edges of the square. Inside the town hall entrance, a coat of arms shows a gold lion on a blue shield, a symbol adopted by the city in the early 13th century.
The square is easy to reach on foot and sits at the heart of the old town, making it a natural starting point for exploring the surrounding streets. The nearby lanes are narrow and car-free, so walking or cycling is the most comfortable way to get around.
During the visit of King Louis XIII in 1634, a fountain in front of the town hall flowed with wine all day for passersby to drink. Two black marble plaques inside the building mark the end of old taxes on wine, recalling a time when local trade was shaped by these financial pressures.
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