Is that a Flemish house? No. That is the H\u00f4tel de Ville. It stands before us as more than just a city hall. It is a symbol of Lille’s resilience and its embrace of a new era.
At the start of the 20th century, Lille’s Town Hall was located on the Place Rihour. But a fire in 1916 destroyed it. The new socialist municipality decided not to rebuild it. Instead, they decided to erect a new one. It should be a symbol of a new era for the city. The construction of the new H\u00f4tel de Ville was entrusted to the architect \u00c9mile Dubuisson.
The site was chosen because it had been military fortifications. It was located in the working-class district of Saint-Sauveur. Dubuisson’s plan provided for a complete overhaul of the district. Construction started in 1924. Roger Salengro became mayor of Lille in 1925. He decided to add a belfry to the H\u00f4tel de Ville.
The belfry was the first reinforced concrete building over 100 meters high in France. It was built in two stages from 1929 to 1931. It ended in 1932 with its inauguration. The H\u00f4tel de Ville combines neo-Flemish and neo-Renaissance architectural styles. It evokes a sense of grandeur and elegance.
The H\u00f4tel de Ville serves as the administrative center for Lille. It houses municipal offices and council chambers. Its facade features intricate carvings and decorative motifs. The belfry is a major landmark. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes other notable belfries in Belgium and northeastern France. But do not confuse it with the belfry above the Chamber of Commerce building.
Visitors can see parts of the interior of the H\u00f4tel de Ville. The building’s 143m-long Great Gallery is like an internal street. It provides access to various parts of the town hall. It has concrete pillars with marble and wrought iron decorative features. The main attraction is the 104m-tall belfry. It was added to the town hall in the 1930s. This makes it the tallest municipal building in France.
Climbing those 400 steps to the top gives you a spectacular view of the city. It’s said to be the best vantage point in Lille. From here, you can see the Pierre Mauroy stadium, the Lys Valley, and the Monts de Flandres.
The building is constructed of concrete, brick, B\u00e9thisy stone, and glazed ceramic. Its polychrome facade has mullioned or basket-handle openings. They evoke Flemish houses. It has imposing triangular gables. It is of Flemish neo-Renaissance inspiration. It is transcribed in the Art Deco style.
At the corner stands the Belfry of Lille. It is the most recent and tallest belfry in Flanders. It is made entirely of reinforced concrete with brick facings. It has two concrete statues of the giants Lyd\u00e9ric and Phinaert at its base. They are founders of the city according to legend.
Inside, the interior gallery is divided into three naves. There are two rows of 21 pillars with floral motifs. The capitals of the concrete pillars have been cast in aluminum shapes. Their base is dressed in marble and wrought iron decoration. The Central Hall accommodates the Council Chamber.
Only the administrative wing and that of the belfry were completed in the 1930s. The reception wing was never completed. The last wing is of modern design. It was built in the early 1990s. It includes the Town Hall’s current vestibule. So ends our visit to the H\u00f4tel de Ville. A symbol of Lille’s past and present.