l'Hotel de Ville de Calais

About

The Hôtel de Ville in Calais is a historic city hall that served as the seat of the city council since its official opening on 12 April 1925. Built in a Renaissance Revival style with Flemish influences, the building features a prominent 72‑metre red‑brick and white‑limestone belfry that rises above the Place du Soldat Inconnu. It earned designation as a monument historique in 2003 and later became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Belfries of Belgium and France” in 2005. Inside, visitors can admire artistic works such as stained‑glass windows depicting the liberation of Calais and a tapestry illustrating the Burgers of Calais, alongside a Rodin sculpture outside. The hall stands on the historic plain known as the “Sahara”, formerly sand dunes, and the building embodies the architectural transition from the 16th‑century medieval town hall to a modern civic monument.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes