Hôtel de Ville de Rochefort Tourist sites in Rochefort

Rochefort Town Hall is a central and historic feature of the town, facing Place Colbert and its fountain. It bears witness to the architectural and administrative evolution of this ancient port city.

History and Acquisition

The building that now houses Rochefort's Town Hall did not always serve this purpose. It was built around 1770, but it was not until 1804 that the building was acquired by the town to house the town hall. This acquisition marked an important step in the administrative structure of the town after the Revolution.

It is important to note that Rochefort also has other historic mansions, such as the Hôtel Hèbre de Saint-Clément (now a museum) or the Hôtel de Cheusses (the oldest civilian building in the town, housing the National Maritime Museum), which have had various uses over time and should not be confused with the current Town Hall.

Architecture and Building Evolution

The architecture of the Town Hall reflects its history. Initially an 18th-century private residence, it underwent significant expansions in the second half of the 19th century. For this purpose, the town acquired three terraced houses, allowing the structure to be extended. In 1965, the façade overlooking Place Colbert was extended by two identical bays, to ensure a certain symmetry and homogeneity.

The building is organized on three levels :

• Ground floor: it accommodates the public and various municipal services. There is also a small courtyard with a room used for meetings or weddings, as well as a backyard for parking.
• First floor: This floor houses the offices of the mayor and his deputies, as well as the municipal council chamber and another wedding hall. An interesting detail is that the mayor's office is the former dance hall immortalized in the film "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort", still retaining its original decor (wooden wall paneling, parquet flooring and interior shutters).
• Second floor: It is mainly dedicated to other administrative offices.