Carentan: Hotel de Ville & war memorial

This south-west facing wing (1717) of the Hotel de Ville - or Town Hall - was originally an addition to the town's 17th century Augustinian convent. Lying outside the town walls, it was for use as a girls' school as well as providing additional facilities for the nuns.

It has served as town hall - with interruptions - since 1926. Its earlier uses at various times included hospital, prison and army barracks.

The photo shows almost all that remains of the convent's once extensive gardens; these included the land (gifted to the town) 200 metres from the convent building on which the public wash house was built shortly before the Revolution.



The stone memorial - foreground right, beneath the stars and stripes - reads:

ICI

L'HEROISME
DES FORCES ALLIES
LIBERE L'EUROPE

LE 6-12 JUIN 1944
LA 101e DIVISION
AEROPERTEE OUVRE
LA GLORIEUSE ROUTE
DE LA VICTOIRE