The Palais de Justice, or courthouse

The Palais de Justice, or courthouse, – a neo-Greek building, looking onto the river Ill

The Palais de Justice was built on quai Finkmatt in the 1890s by Danish architect Skjold Neckelmann. The neo- Greek architecture stands in contrast to the “Wilhelmian” style of other nearby official buildings and is meant to signify the independence of justice with regard to public authorities.

The neo-Greek facade features a large portico with ionic columns, surmounted by a triangular pediment and decorated with allegories of Justice (under the figure of the goddess Athena) and Fortitude, with 2 sphinxes. The entrance gate features a mask of Gorgon.

The allegories and monumental sphinxes also form part of the interior decoration, most notably at the top of the stairway leading to the court rooms. The architectural quality stands out especially in the interior design. The facades and the roof of the original building, the entrance lobby, the salle des pas perdus (great hall) with its skylights and staircases and galleries over 3 floors, the courtrooms with their wood panelling and stucco or panelling ceilings, are all registered on the French supplementary list of historical monuments.

Renovation of the Palais de Justice

Extensive renovation is required to bring the building into line with safety, security and accessibility standards, by providing proper facilities for the practice of modern justice and for accommodating the public. The renovation is being carried out by Spanish architects Garcès – De Seta – Bonet, and their design, while retaining the original architecture, has managed to achieve these objectives. Considerable emphasis has been placed on maintaining the building’s architectural heritage and the exterior will remain as it was before, with most of the changes taking place inside and in the roofing, with the removal of the raised extension, added in 1978. Renovation work should be completed by 2017.