The Grande Place and Hôtel-de-Ville
The Hôtel-de-Ville, in which the Museum was installed, was built in the sixteenth century, but was restored and enlarged in the eighteenth century.
Of its Renaissance west front, facing the Grande Place, only the lower part—in ruins—remains, forming a porch with balcony (photos, p. [103]).
The carved salamanders which ornamented it were smashed with blows from hammers.
Two of the arcades of the porch collapsed in 1918 (see second photo on p. [103]).
The Louis XVI. south front, facing the Rue Saint-Sauveur, was less damaged (photo below).
PÉRONNE. THE HÔTEL-DE-VILLE.
The front facing the Rue Saint-Sauveur.
The roof and the modern belfry which surmounted the building were blown up in 1917. An unexploded bomb with connecting wires was found in the broken frame-work, fixed to a beam. Before evacuating the town, the Germans fixed a large wooden board on the west front, bearing the following inscription: Nicht ärger, nur wundern (Don't be angry, only admire).