The tribunal: different versions of its history

It is believed that it was built in 1825 at the same time as the prison and the Town Hall, on the ruins of the market building that Catherine de Medici, queen of France and Duchess of Burgundy, had given the town of Clermont-Ferrand in the XVI century.

However, there is another version. In 1831, where the Court is now, there were a number of buildings. Some of the buildings were public, since that was where justice was delivered, and some were private since some of the buildings belonged to individuals. Later, a Parisian architect called Ledru demolished these buildings to instead put up the edifices we can see today, starting with the prison, the court and finally the Town Hall, which was completed during the time of the July Monarchy (1830–1848). It was this architect who gave his name to Rue Ledru.

Another story is that the Palace of Justice in which the Court sits was begun on 28 December 1826 and was inaugurated by the Crown Prosecutor, M. Besse de Beauregar, on 4 November 1833.

The Town Hall in the past

Building work had been carried out in the XVIII century in an effort to equip the town and to make it more attractive. This work was not continued during the time of the Revolution and the Empire. The movement began again during the Restoration and its largest achievement was the Town Hall.

In 1815, the courts, prisons and municipal authorities still occupied the old Palais de Boulogne. Since this location was impractical, in 1818 it was suggested that the municipal authorities should be moved to the former steward’s building, de Chazerat’s building in Rue Pascal, sold for 60,000 francs. A royal decree dated 2 June 1819 approved the move. The process had taken so long that M. de Chazerat revoked his original acceptance and reneged on the preparatory agreements.

Another solution was therefore found, which was to almost completely rebuild the old buildings of the Palais de Boulogne. Estimates and plans were provided by the architect Louis Ledru. Work on the prison began in 1823 and on the Palace of Justice in 1826. Work on the Town Hall began with the acquisition of a number of buildings surrounding the Palais de Boulogne, in particular the large Barre building in 1827, which was located where the north wing of the Town Hall is now.

The price of the award was 228,140.98F. A royal decree dated 9 July 1828 authorised the town to acquire the land necessary, contracts were awarded in December 1828. After a vote in favour of the budget, work began in 1829. In May of the same year, the Town Council was asked to make an effort to speed up the work, which was proceeding slowly. In July 1830 the building reached the first floor.

A lack of funds caused building to stop in 1831. The town considered asking for a loan but no solution was found. In March 1832, Clermont received 50,000F out of the 5 million Francs allocated to towns, but this did not allow work to proceed very far. In 1837, M. Jarrier, a businessman, offered to the town to complete the work, with the necessary finance being advanced in exchange for promissory notes issued by the town for the sum of 30,000F per year. This was an original solution which only received ministerial approval in September 1840. Construction of the building was finally completed in 1857.

Without waiting for the end of building work, the new Town Hall was inaugurated by a large ball for the poor, which was given in the large hall on the 25 January 1840. In the same year, on the 28 July, a lead box was placed within the Town Hall construction, on the south-western corner by the keystone, above the second base. This box contained a copper plaque on which the following had been inscribed:
" Work on the Town Hall began in January 1829, on the northern wing. M. le Baron Sers was prefect of Puy-de-Dôme and M. Blatin was Mayor of the Town and was succeeded by M. Jules Cariol. The first stone was placed on 28 July 1840 (10th year of the reign of Louis Philippe 1st). M. Meinadier was prefect, M. Conchon lawyer and Mayor, M.Verdier and M. Latour, lawyer and deputy judge at the civil court, M. Conche, Doctor of Medicine, and M. Mège, lawyer. M. Ledru, architect, drew up the plans, M. Boyer contractor until 1836, since which time construction has been continued and will be completed by M. Louis Jarrier in 1841."

Finishing and decoration also began before building of the Town Hall was completed. At the end of 1838 or beginning of 1839, it was envisaged that the main hall would be hung with paper or finished in stucco. The Mayor sought the advice of M. Pascal Lesage, an architect at Randan, who gave him the following information: " The stucco work at the palace was carried out by M. Henri Besc, of 11 Rue Monsieur, Faubourg St-Germain in Paris. He is not only an artist, but is also a man whose promises can be counted on and who sticks to his commitments, which is rare with contractors these days".

Today, the main hall is divided into three parts: the gallery, which measures 109m², the small hall measuring 43m² and the reception room, measuring 280m². This room has been the stage for many receptions: famous guests, the current President of the Republic and his predecessor have both had the opportunity to admire the ceiling and the large chandelier which illuminates the room. The next room is the Municipal Council room, on one wall hangs a tapestry given to the town by Mme Bureau, a councillor’s widow; at the back of the room, behind the mayor’s desk, is a glass case in which is displayed the Croix de Guerre (Cross of War medal) given to the town for its courageous behaviour during the Resistance at the time of the 1939-1945 war.

The next room is the old Marriage room, on which hangs a tapestry representing Marianne, based on a drawing by Cocteau. Going down the grand staircase, there is a large painting on which is inscribed "Arverne Civitas nobilissima", which is a reminder that the town was already well known at the time of the Romans.

… and in the present day

Now that the High Court has moved to the legal complex in the Place de l’Etoile, the Town Hall has taken over the space left vacant. In the basement, the archives have been improved. At ground level, the offices of the elected representatives (there are now two people in each of the eight offices) and the Mayor’s office have been reorganised. Around the central walkway there is a "representatives’ lobby", a meeting room and a small waiting area doubling as an entrance hall to the councillors’ offices. Two lifts have been installed, one from the town printing office, and the other from the garden, by the Hall de Boulogne, which in particular is used for access to the festival hall.

On the first floor, the old Marriage room has been transformed into a meeting room, while the room formerly used for court hearings has been redecorated with a trompe l’œil by Slobo (allegory on the ceiling and a view of the town opposite the spouses), has been transformed into the marriage room. The 6th Division occupies the premises giving on to Place Gondard, with windows giving on to the Rue Halle de Boulogne. Two meeting rooms have been fitted out: in the former Michel de l’Hospital courtroom, and in the former magistrates’ library, decorated with fine mouldings.