Hôtel de ville de Valenciennes, Historical town hall in Place d'Armes, Valenciennes, France
The town hall of Valenciennes is a municipal administration building in the city center with a 17th-century facade displaying Gothic architecture characteristic of the Spanish Netherlands region. Two towers were added during the 19th century, and the interior was completely reconstructed after World War II.
Construction began in 1611 when Provost Jean Roisin initiated the rebuilding and allocated one-fifth of the city budget over three years for the project. The structure survived major damage during World War II, with only the facade remaining intact after bombardment.
Sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux created the monumental pediment and female statues that ornament the facade between the windows. These works remain one of the building's most striking visual features today.
The building is located centrally on Place d'Armes and is easily accessible on foot, with the facade fully visible from street level. Visitors can view the exterior anytime, while access to the interior depends on administrative office hours.
Only the facade survived the World War II bombardment untouched, while the interior was completely destroyed. The subsequent reconstruction expanded the total surface area of the building to roughly three times its original size.
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