The town halls of France come in all shapes and sizes, covering a vast range of architectural styles. The mairie of Saint-Germain-de-Pasquier in Eure (Normandy), however, has a unique claim to fame – it is the smallest in the country.
The building is not even big enough to officially qualify as a bedroom (which must be 9m²), yet it has served as a town hall since 1997.
It is currently home to 140 residents, although from 1906 to 1968 its population averaged just 29. Their minuscule town hall, which measures 3m x 2.61m, creates a total surface area of 7.83m², earning it a spot in the Guinness World Records.
The spring was said to cure a range of ailments, and pilgrims travelled here to immerse their children in the waters. In 1851, the village decided to build a chapel above the spring to enhance the site’s religious reputation and draw more visitors.
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It was constructed from the red bricks that are characteristic of the area, and designed by a naval architect who was used to working with very compact spaces.
The chapel only served this purpose for 50 years; in 1905, following the law separating Church and State, the little building was deconsecrated and became council property.
At that time, council meetings were typically held in the house of the current mayor. However, in 1910 the then-mayor decided to convert the village chapel into a town hall instead.
Over the decades, the traditional red bricks were covered over with a plaster render, and the statue of Saint Clotilde was removed from her cubby above the door.
In 1997, the render was removed and the chapel restored to its former glory, including reinstating the statue of Saint Clotilde. A tricolore flag was also erected.
Cramped council meetings
The former chapel is not a Tardis – it feels no bigger inside than it appears from outside – so work has to be streamlined in order for it to function as a mairie.
Inside, there is one desk and an office chair, to be used by the mayor, the mayor’s secretary, the deputy mayor and any members of the local council, although they must take turns using them.
The town council inside the little mairieLe Journal dElbeuf
The oval desk is large but folds down to create extra space when required. Around the walls are eight drop-down seats known as strapontins.
Thanks to this clever design, the mairie can host council meetings for a maximum of 12 people, “but definitely no more than that,” said former mayor Laurence Laffillé.
Once the councillors have sat down, they have to stay there until the meeting is over. There are no bathroom facilities: the toilet is located nearby but outside the building, in the town hall garden.
The mairie is also used during elections. A private booth (isoloir) in the form of a curtained-off corner is set up for casting votes.
Caution is required when it comes to organising a village wedding. Even when the desk is folded back, the mairie can only house the mayor, the happy couple and the witnesses.
Other guests must peer in through the windows, so it is best to choose a dry day. Surprisingly, given its narrow confines, suggestions to move the mairie to a larger building have been rejected.
“It might seem impractical and restrictive, but for those who have grown up in the village, like I have, this is the mairie we have always known and so we are used to its quirks,” said Ms Laffillé.
The mairie is open on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00, and Thursday afternoons from 16:00 to 19:00. Visitors may also be interested in the village’s traditional bread oven that dates from 1738. It is still used several times a year during farmers’ markets.
