Tribunal d'Instance

The Annexation changes the administrative landscape of the city. The former court premises are considered too small, in particular due to the increased powers of the Amtsgericht (cantonal court). The German administration, which wanted to mark its presence, built this imposing building from 1899, close to the prison and the Landgericht (regional court). Completed in 1902, it became the district court in 1919. Its architecture, influenced by the late Gothic and Renaissance styles, is representative of that of the Wilhelmian period. Very neat, it displays great diversity and decorative abundance: gargoyles, openwork balustrades, numerous sculpted elements with varied themes, bays of different shapes and sizes, wrought iron grills, etc. The interior is no less interesting, with its stained-glass windows, wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from bird beaks and sculptures evoking justice and what it should be: "an iron hand in a velvet glove".