The former courthouse or auditorium of the king is located on the Place d'Armes in Briançon. Built at the end of the 17th century, it housed the town's justice services until their departure in 2009.
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From 1053, a châtelain represented the Dauphin in Briançon. He exercised the right of justice in assizes called plaids, but could only judge offences that carried only small fines or crimes without a physical conviction.
After the signing of the Great Transaction in 1343, which freed the people of Briançonnais, syndics, elected by the community, ensured the justice of simple urban and rural policing.
The first auditorium was located at the top of the Grande Rue. The acquisition of a private house, to establish the new auditorium, at the corner of the Grande Rue and the Place d'Armes dates from 1688. The great town fire of 1692 damaged the building. Extensive interior work was undertaken in 1705. The painted decoration of the Audience Room, discovered under a spinach green hanging, dates from this restoration. Very faded today, we can see: a Christ, monarchical symbols: crowned back-to-back Ls and fleurs-de-lis, the coats of arms of the Dauphiné and the kingdom of France. The rest of the decoration consists of rectangular panelling and a French ceiling supported by six beams. In the past, the two adjoining rooms, the Council Chamber and the Civil Chamber, had the same decoration.
In 1703, the beautiful architectural decoration of the main door was put in place. The ground floor was formerly occupied by shops. A large space opens onto a beautiful staircase leading to the upper floors. Its decoration is particularly remarkable. Its nature and size suggest that it was the staircase of a private house. The keystone of the vault of the two landings is decorated with acanthus leaves, the vaults fall on Tuscan bases and rosettes are placed in the centre of the vaults. The façade on the Place d'Armes side comprises two parts. A long elevation of four levels and five bays and another of four levels and two bays. The bays are rectangular. A smooth yellow ochre render was applied in 1984.
A fountain made of griotte limestone, a local pink stone, stands next to one of the doors. Two sundials adorn the facades (restored by the Club du Vieux Manoir).
To the west, the simplest, inspired by the Zarbula style (a famous Piedmontese sundial maker who worked extensively in the region). A trompe-l'oeil effect imitates wood and stone. A very short motto reminds us of the passing of time: "Life flees like the shadow".
To the east, the largest, richly decorated with symbolic elements: sun, moon, stars, fleur-de-lis and coat of arms, informs us of the functions of the square: "From sunrise to sunset, this fleeting shadow... commands the work of Themis (goddess of justice) and Mars (god of war), as well as the commercial business.
The wooden canopy marking the entrance to a former guardhouse was restored in 2012 during the renovation of the Place d'Armes. The building is owned by the town of Briançon. It houses offices. It is open to the public during guided tours.
The first auditorium was located at the top of the Grande Rue. The acquisition of a private house, to establish the new auditorium, at the corner of the Grande Rue and the Place d'Armes dates from 1688. The great town fire of 1692 damaged the building. Extensive interior work was undertaken in 1705. The painted decoration of the Audience Room, discovered under a spinach green hanging, dates from this restoration. Very faded today, we can see: a Christ, monarchical symbols: crowned back-to-back Ls and fleurs-de-lis, the coats of arms of the Dauphiné and the kingdom of France. The rest of the decoration consists of rectangular panelling and a French ceiling supported by six beams. In the past, the two adjoining rooms, the Council Chamber and the Civil Chamber, had the same decoration.
In 1703, the beautiful architectural decoration of the main door was put in place. The ground floor was formerly occupied by shops. A large space opens onto a beautiful staircase leading to the upper floors. Its decoration is particularly remarkable. Its nature and size suggest that it was the staircase of a private house. The keystone of the vault of the two landings is decorated with acanthus leaves, the vaults fall on Tuscan bases and rosettes are placed in the centre of the vaults. The façade on the Place d'Armes side comprises two parts. A long elevation of four levels and five bays and another of four levels and two bays. The bays are rectangular. A smooth yellow ochre render was applied in 1984.
A fountain made of griotte limestone, a local pink stone, stands next to one of the doors. Two sundials adorn the facades (restored by the Club du Vieux Manoir).
To the west, the simplest, inspired by the Zarbula style (a famous Piedmontese sundial maker who worked extensively in the region). A trompe-l'oeil effect imitates wood and stone. A very short motto reminds us of the passing of time: "Life flees like the shadow".
To the east, the largest, richly decorated with symbolic elements: sun, moon, stars, fleur-de-lis and coat of arms, informs us of the functions of the square: "From sunrise to sunset, this fleeting shadow... commands the work of Themis (goddess of justice) and Mars (god of war), as well as the commercial business.
The wooden canopy marking the entrance to a former guardhouse was restored in 2012 during the renovation of the Place d'Armes. The building is owned by the town of Briançon. It houses offices. It is open to the public during guided tours.
From 1053, a châtelain represented the Dauphin in Briançon. He exercised the right of justice in assizes called plaids, but could only judge offences that carried only small fines or crimes without a physical conviction.
After the signing of the Great Transaction in 1343, which freed the people of Briançonnais, syndics, elected by the community, ensured the justice of simple urban and rural policing.
The first auditorium was located at the top of the Grande Rue. The acquisition of a...
After the signing of the Great Transaction in 1343, which freed the people of Briançonnais, syndics, elected by the community, ensured the justice of simple urban and rural policing.
The first auditorium was located at the top of the Grande Rue. The acquisition of a...
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