The Hôtel de Ville of La Rochelle is one of the finest Renaissance buildings in France. Behind a defensive medieval wall the courtyard opens out into a richly carved Renaissance facade — slim columns, classical pediments, niches with statues of mayors and kings. It was built in two phases between 1493 and 1606, and the contrast between the early Gothic shell and the later courtyard captures the moment when France began to take its cues from Italy.
A serious fire in 2013 destroyed much of the interior, and the building has only recently reopened after a long restoration. The exterior and courtyard are open during the day; guided tours of the restored interior run on weekend afternoons. It still functions as the working town hall.