Prefecture of the Aube - Troyes

This building was built in the second half of the 18th century to replace the former Notre-Dame-aux-Nonnains abbey (the most notable women's abbey in the diocese of Troyes), the Saint-Jacques churches and a cemetery. The latter two were destroyed by fire in 1188.

The building was built by a Parisian architect, Louis de La Brière, between 1778 and 1781.

With the creation of the departments in 1790, the prefectural administration was initially housed in the Hôtel de Marisy. It was not until 1794, after the sale of the hotel by its owner, that the building was partly used for the administration of this department.

At the beginning of the 19th century , after some criticism from residents and the press, the prefecture was modernized by the General Council to bring it into line with the laws and regulations. From then on, the façade formed a court of honor enclosed by a gate. This remained so until 1892, when a fire destroyed the building.

This last disaster forced the state to move its departments again. The reconstruction took five years from 1894, but in 1896 the prefecture was able to move into the new building.

During the German occupation , the Nazis confiscated the bronze medallion, which was replaced by a bell.

In the 1980s, the building was rebuilt . On 1 December 1988, the prefecture was partially listed as a monument, for the facades overlooking the courtyard, the 19th-century roofs, the wrought iron gate and the two lions sculpted by Valtat.

Willem Vandenameele