Mairie de Versailles, France - City and Town Halls on Waymarking.com

It was in 1670, due to the initiative of the maréchal de Bellefonds, governor of the royal kennels, that at 4, avenue de Paris, a very lovely residence was constructed, which had gardens which extended to the Chateau park. Across the street, the Grand Veneur mansion, no longer there today, provided a mirror image of the same magnificence. But the construction of the Royal stables deprived the maréchal of his royal perspective, and he sold his mansion to the chevalier de Lorraine.

Louis XIV acquired it in 1680 for the duke of Vermandois, his legitimated son, who died prematurely three years later. The property reverted then to his sister, the princess of Conti, who made it a setting for parties which were well attended by the court.

Sold to a speculator, the mansion was finally bought back in 1723 by Louis XV to house the duke of Bourbon.

Redecoration was performed by Robert de Cotte, the kings premiere architect and disciple of Mansart. After the example of the princess of Conti, the duke organized within sumptuous receptions.

Inoccupied at the time of the revolution, the mansion was the provisional seat of the Versaille municiple government up until then housed in a royal furniture storehouse on the rue des Réservoirs.

Originally planned for six months, the location was made official in 1821. The extension of the rue Royale towards the avenue de Paris dates from this time. The edifice which was enterred by the avenue de Berry (today the avenue du Général de Gaulle), was adorned with a turret with a clock. In 1859, the city became the official owner. But Versailles was expanding rapidly and despite multiple renovation projects, the place quickly became insufficient.

The mansion was finally demolished in 1899 on the order of the mayor at that time, Édouard Lefebvre. It was reconstructed by Henri Le Grand of Versailles, topped with a clock tower which looked out over the town, and faced the avenue de Paris. Inaugurated on November 18, 1900, the building lost its clock tower, thought to be too tall, in 1945.

Name: Hotel de Ville de Versailles Address: 4 avenue Paris Versailles, France 78011 Date of Construction: 11/18/1900 Architect: Henri Le Grand Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications: Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link]

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