La Rochelle - Town Hall

(Local Name: Hôtel de Ville) In the center of La Rochelle is the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, with the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), a richly decorated Renaissance building mainly dating from 1595-1606, surrounded by an older defensive wall (1498). In Rue des Merciers, an arcaded street which runs from the northeast corner of the Town Hall to the market square, are many picturesque old houses (particularly Nos. 3, 5, 8, 17 and 23).