Lyon City Hall: A History of Moves

Lyon City Hall has moved several times throughout its history. Lyon City Hall, one of the symbols of the city, has had various locations before settling in its current location.

Saint-Jacquême or Saint-Jacques Chapel

In ancient times and up until the 15th century of Lyon's history, the city's affairs were handled in various places, such as at the home of some notable or in the Saint-Jacquême chapel (destroyed in 1792) located opposite the Saint-Nizier church. It was here that the councillors' meetings took place.

Cheese Street

The house, acquired by the consulate in 1424 to hold its assemblies, was not occupied until 1462 due to the opposition of the archbishop. Work was carried out at that time, and the current buildings probably date from this period. In 1513, a fire damaged the archives and the upper room, but repairs were carried out a month later. In 1576, the master mason Pierre Fontanel made alterations, perhaps linked to the removal of the galleries and the construction of the main staircase. In 1604, two neighboring houses were integrated, but the consulate left the premises.

Poulaillerie Street (printing museum)

The town hall moved to the Hôtel de la Couronne. In fact, the provost of merchants, similar to a contemporary mayor, and the aldermen, equivalent to today's municipal councillors, acquired the property in 1604 with the aim of establishing the Town Hall there.

Place of the soils

The building was constructed between 1646 and 1672 by the city architect, Simon Maupin. Place des Terreaux then became the administrative centre of Lyon. The building is organised around two courtyards, one of which is raised, and four corner pavilions with a belfry enclosing the main courtyard. The richly decorated interior makes it a model of decoration. The town hall was partly destroyed by fire in 1674. The king called on Jules Hardouin-Mansart to draw up the plans for the new Town Hall. During the French Revolution, the consulate hall was transformed into a revolutionary tribunal. In 1792, the paintings representing the aldermen and the provosts of the merchants were destroyed by the new municipality, which wanted to erase all traces of the former consulate. On 14 July 1803, a second fire destroyed the building, which was completely renovated under the Second Empire.
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