La Rochelle Town Hall, Town hall in La Rochelle, France

The Hôtel de Ville de La Rochelle is the oldest continuously active town hall in France, located in the historic center of the city on the square that bears the same name. The building combines a medieval section with battlements and a corner tower, a 16th-century Renaissance wing with carved facades, and a later tower fitted with a clock.

The building dates back to 1298 and was rebuilt around 1490 in the style of a fortified residence before a Renaissance wing was added in 1595. It served as the residence of the Governor of Aunis between 1628 and 1748, then returned to civic use, and was listed as a historic monument in 1861.

Inside the building, the Chambre des Échevins features a balcony whose large consoles were designed to resemble the hull of an old ship, a reference to the Protestant sea captains who once shaped the city. In front of the building stands a statue of Jean Guiton, the mayor who resisted the royal siege, donated by an American city founded by former residents of La Rochelle.

The town hall sits in the city center and is easy to reach on foot from the old port and the main arcaded streets. Guided tours are available on a regular basis, and booking in advance is recommended as access to some rooms is limited.

A fire in 2013 badly damaged the roofs and structure of the building, leading to years of restoration work supervised by architect Philippe Villeneuve that was completed in 2019. The restoration was documented in a book called 'Du coeur à l'ouvrage', sold in some of the city's museums and archives.