City Hall

Right in front of you, on the little Jean Jaurès square, stands the imposing Tours City Hall. Built at the end of the 19th century and inaugurated in 1904, it looks more like a palace than anything else. It’s also the work of Victor Laloux, the same architect who designed the train station. The facade is impressive with these men’s torsos carrying the weight of the city on their shoulders. Look up and admire the clock that crowns it. It’s framed by two caryatids symbolizing day and night. Two other reclining figures represent the Loire and the Cher rivers. You’ll notice there are also figures on the roof of each wing. On the left, you’ll find allegories representing courage and strength, and on the right, education and vigilance. It all adds up to quite a successful entity. Even the Canadians appreciate the architect’s work! When restoring Montreal’s city hall after the fire of 1922, they used the roof of Tours City Hall as a model. The people of Tours can be proud to have a piece of their city on the other side of the Atlantic. If you’re dying to explore the inside, you’ll have to wait for the first Sunday of the month for the guided tours organized by the municipality. This iconic building of the city is classified as a historical monument.