Halles de Clisson, Classified historical monument and market hall in Clisson, France
The Halles de Clisson is a medieval market hall in the center of Clisson, France, listed as a classified historical monument. It runs between Rue Saint-Jacques and Place Notre-Dame, with a large central nave covered by a high wooden roof supported by timber pillars set on granite bases, and flanked by lower side areas.
The halls were built around 1376-1377, on a spot that had served as a market since the 13th century under the local lords. The town bought the building in 1819 and renovated it, adding a southern grain hall wing between 1821 and 1822, designed in an Italian-influenced style with brick arches.
The halls are still used for the weekly market, making them a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The southern wing, once a grain hall, now houses the tourist office alongside a café and a bookshop.
The halls are easy to reach on foot from the center of Clisson, with four separate entrances from the surrounding streets and the square. Visiting on a market day gives a better sense of how the space is used, as the building is at its most active then.
Excavations beneath the floor of the halls uncovered objects and bones linked to an old butchery, as well as traces of occupation going back to the 10th century. The wooden roof is built from three different types of timber, oak, chestnut, and fir, a combination that was unusual for the period.
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