Friday 22 January 2010

L'hôtel du Bailliage

Here are yesterday's two polar bears in the courtyard of the hôtel du Bailliage. No, it isn't a hotel, nor was it ever. It now houses antiques shops, but was built in 1724 and used to house the court and prison before the French Revolution. It later became the assizes court until 1839. I think it's a gorgeous building!
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Voici les ours polaires d'hier dans la cour de l'hôtel du Bailliage. Il fut construit en 1724 sur les plans de Monsieur Tannevot et abritait le tribunal et la prison sous l'Ancien Régime, avant de devenir la Cour d'assises après la Révolution. Désaffecté en 1839, il est aujourd'hui occupé par des antiquaires.

20 comments:

akarui said...

De beaux batiments et un commentaire historique interessant.

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Very nice building. I like the close ups of the previous days post also.

Bob Crowe said...

The building is quite handsome. Do you know what kind of stone it is? Those tan blocks covering the facade are so common in France and so elegant.

Lowell said...

Well, it IS a gorgeous building...but I tend to think that of almost all French buildings!

Have you bought any antiques there? I think I've told you why I avoid antique shops; most of the stuff they sell comes from my earlier years!

Paulie said...

Yes! A beautiful piece of architecture.

Louis la Vache said...

Ah! Les ours in context. ;-)

Hilda said...

Simple but beautiful. Love the paved courtyard, and the beautiful contrast of the old building and modern sculpted polar bears.

Anonymous said...

What a nice perspective in this beauty.

VP said...

Beautiful building, the paved courtyard is a perfect background for those bears.

Olivier said...

je savais qu'il faisait froid, mais au point de rendre un ours polaire tout rouge ;o)) surprenant contrasme

Unseen India Tours said...

Beautiful and lovely post !! Simply Great

James Mark said...

Yes, a lovely ensemble of shutters, canopies, dormers (chiens assis - or is that expression used only for smaller roof-windows?) and classical lines.

Cezar and Léia said...

Ce bâtiment est beau et élégant! :)
Merci pour la vue dégagée sur la place, j'aime ces sculptures!
Léia

Small City Scenes said...

Yes, it is a gorgeous building. If not a hotel, why is it called one. Imagine how long it took to build that back in 1724. Excellent! MB

Cergie said...

Resitué dans l'ensemble on peut mieux juger de l'échelle et de la destination : plutôt une pelouse de parc (et sans socle) qu'un dessus de bureau comme presse papier... Des pièces uniques certainemnt (les photos du site de Pascal Masi ne s'affichent pas pour moi)...

EG CameraGirl said...

It amazes me that many buildings built back then still look so good. On the other hand, many buildings built in the last 50 years are falling apart!

Saretta said...

Interesting place and sculptures!

Suzanne said...

It is a nice building but I'd like to see the polar bears close up too. It looks like it was a bit rainy. Thanks.

Un regard offert said...

Cela respire le Grand siècle !

Anonymous said...

Quite the mixture of history with a court and prison also being in the same location. The feelings one gets here may be quite intense.