Échevinage

The only vestige, with the Abbey Tower, of the 17th century Benedictine abbey, classified as a historical monument, the Echevinage was the main entrance. Built in 1632, in the style of the Flemish Renaissance, it offers an abundant decoration: vigilant lion, cherub's head, supporting columns with horns, medallions, interlacing, dogs that watch over the top of the two octagonal symmetrical pavilions. An imposing entrance door is surmounted by a bell tower and its bell. The chevins proclaimed the sayings from the balcony.

Judicial and administrative place that united the temporal power of the abbey and that of the commune, it became Hôtel de ville after the Révolution and échappa thus à destruction. Today, on the ground floor remain dungeons of the prison of sureté. on the second floor, the wedding room and the room of the Plaids are separated by a winding staircase that leads to a gallery. At the ends of the latter are the Salle de la Châvinale and the Louis Watteau salon, decorated with paintings by the artist for the building in 1781-1782.

The Ecritorial Heritage Department

The service Patrimoine Ecrit installedé à l’Echevinage preserves there the mémoire of the city, through a collection of old books, plans and newspapers... Exhibitions and cultural events are regularly proposed.