Palais de justice de Boulogne-sur-Mer, Neoclassical courthouse in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
The Palais de justice is a neoclassical courthouse with a cubic form and a two-level facade decorated with Doric and Ionic columns, large arched windows, and symmetrical proportions. Inside, a monumental staircase and barrel-vaulted hall serve the building's judicial functions.
Construction began in 1845 and the architect Firmin Epellet completed the building in 1852, replacing the former royal seneschalsy that had stood since 1478. The new courthouse embodied 19th-century ideals of judicial authority through neoclassical design.
The triangular pediment displays an allegory by Louis-Victor Bougron depicting Law surrounded by Force and Justice protecting Arts, Sciences, Commerce, and Industry.
The courthouse sits on Place de la Resistance in the heart of the city and is easily reached on foot from the town center. Note that it functions as an active court, so some areas may not be open to the general public during proceedings.
During 1970s renovations, workers uncovered remains of a second-century Roman castrum beneath the building, including a quadrangular tower now preserved in the basement. These archaeological finds reveal layers of the site's occupation stretching back two thousand years.
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