The fine Hôtel de Ville was commenced in 1627 on the plans of a native architect, Jean Bonhomme. Begun with the left pavilion, the main façade, with the central pavilion and its tower, were completed by 1630. Left incomplete for nearly two centuries, the right pavilion was added in 1823-1825 by Serrurier, also an architect of Reims. Great additions and new buildings around a central court were added between 1875 and 1880. The relief of Louis XIII in the central pediment by Milhomme, placed in 1818, occupies the place of an earlier one by Nicolas Jacques, placed in 1636 and destroyed in the Revolution. The building contained the Museum and Public Library of Reims. Destroyed by fire, May 3, 1917. The more valuable books of the library, and the departmental archives had long before been placed in safety elsewhere.
BUILDINGS OF NOTE
The Place Royale, begun in 1757, is closed on one side by the Hôtel des Fermes, a stately edifice with a central pediment supported by columns. In the centre of the Place is a statue of Louis XV by Cartellier, replacing an earlier statue by Pigalle, inaugurated in 1765 and destroyed in the Revolution. Two allegorical groups by Pigalle for the pedestal survived.
Maison des Musiciens, dating from the time of St. Louis, has a remarkable façade of large twin-windows alternating with trilobed niches containing seated statues of musicians, larger than life size. Purchased by the city and by public subscription in 1905.
Reims contains two other dwellings of the XIII century. A larger house in the Rue de Tambour, with a completely modernized interior, offers a façade of much interest, notwithstanding a repair in 1832.—Another house, in the Rue de Sedan, is a simple artisan's dwelling, retaining almost intact its gabled façade of the end of the XIII century.—A Gothic building in the same street, transformed into a school in 1890, retains parts of the XVI and XVII centuries.—A house in the Rue de Vesle has a façade of the XIV century, destroyed and burned by the bombardment of September 19, 1914.—Fragments of the former priory of St. Bernard remain in the same street behind a modern store front.—A house in the Rue de la Grue is an interesting type of the end of the XVII century; ruined in bombardment of September 19, 1914.
Hôtel de Bezannes, a large dwelling of the middle of the XV century, was probably built by Pierre de Bezannes, lieutenant of the inhabitants of Reims (1450-1467), whose arms remain on the buildings of the court. It became a school in 1901.
Hôtel Le Vergeur, a large building retaining fragments of all styles since the end of the XIII century.—The Maison du Long-Vêtu, the birthplace of Colbert, the celebrated minister of Louis XIV, has a façade of the middle ages, and another of the XVII century.—A hotel of the XV century, in the Rue de Pouilly, was the dwelling of an uncle of Colbert's. It is now the house of the Sœurs de l'Espérance; a part of the façade was demolished in 1908.—Pavilion de Muire, built by Nicolas Noel, lord of Muire, towards 1565, a remarkable structure in the style of Henri III.—Hôtel de Montlaurent of the XVI century, has lost much of its interior interest, but the court offers some of the primitive decoration.—Hôtel de la Salle, the birthplace of J. B. de la Salle, is one of the most beautiful types of domestic Renaissance architecture in Reims; the façade bears the date 1545.—Cour Mopinot has a portico of the XVI century.—Hôtel Thiret de Prin was built under Henri IV; Richelieu lived in this building during his sojourn in Reims in 1641.—Maison de l'Ecu de Reims bears the date 1652.—Maison de Jean Maillefer, built in 1651.—Hôtel Lagoille de Courtagnon has a façade of the XVII century.—Hôtel Rogier, built towards 1750; sold at public auction, in January, 1914.—Two wooden houses with pointed gables of the end of the XV century, are in the Place des Marchés.—An inscription on the Hôtel de la Maison-Rouge states that the father and mother of Jeanne d'Arc were lodged in this building at public expense in 1429, at the coronation of Charles VII. It was then known as the Ane Rayé.—The Société des Amis du Vieux Reims maintained an extensive collection of objects relating to Reims in the former Hôtel Coquebert.
The Porte de Mars, a Roman triumphal arch of three arches, is the most considerable monument in Reims dating from Roman times.