Compiègne - Hôtel-de-Ville

The medieval history of Compiègne starts with a castle built by the Merovingian dynasty. Louis the Pious` son, Charles the Bald, renamed the town "Carolopolis". On the site of the olde Merovingian palace Charles founded the abbey "Notre-Dame de Carlopole" in 876. The abbey´s church was consecrated by Pope John VIII during a council held here in 877. The abbey renamed "Abbaye Saint-Corneille" existed up to the French Revolution.

In 879 Louis the Stammerer, who had succeeded his father Charles, got buried here, as well as, 8 years later, Louis V, the last Carolingian monarch in West Francia.

In 1430, during the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc was captured here by the Burgundians. They sold her to the English, who burned her at the stake in Rouen a year later.

In 1918 the "Armistice of Compiègne" (aka "Armistice of 11 November 1918"), signed in railway carriage near the town, ended fighting of World War I.

About 22 years later the "Armistice of 22 June 1940" was signed here, establishing the German occupation zone in France. Adolf Hitler chose Compiègne as the site to sign the armistice due to its symbolic role. Actually the same railway carriage was used again.

The "Hôtel de Ville" was built from 1505 on.