Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Les Halles

In 990, Emma, the daughter of the Count of Blois, Theobald I, founded the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Pierre, which was known for growing Mediterranean plants such as olive trees, oranges and pomegranates from the original monastery in Italy. The monastery was destroyed during the French Revolution. The commune gives its name to the AOC wine-growing region. Almost exclusively red wine is grown on a vineyard area of 1368 hectares. The market hall belonged to the Benedictines of Bourgueil Abbey before being transferred to the Domaine Nationale in 1789. In 1810, an imperial decree confirmed the purchase of the market hall by the town of Bourgueil, but its poor condition prompted the commissioner of experts to recommend that it be rebuilt The municipality rejected this solution, but in 1823 part of the halls collapsed and reconstruction was unavoidable. The choice fell in favour of rebuilding a smaller building made of tuff. A stone that is found in large quantities in the region.

Chaumont (pop. ~ 22.000) is located in the centre of the Departenement Haute Marne. Peasants and artisans settled around an early existing fortified motte and so started the development of Chaumont, owned since the 12th century by the Counts of Champagne. - Les Halles - a nice 19th-century building right in town.

The market hall is located in the center of Epinal. "Les Halles" in Paris, erected by Victor Baltard from 1854 on - and demolished in 1971, had a similar structure. It is probably very busy here in the morning, but in the early afternoon most retailers have already closed their shops.

Mirepoix, part of the independent fiefdom of Foix, was a stronghold of the Cathars, who held a council here in 1206. Only 3 years later (1209) Simon de Montfort´s armee captured the town after a siege. He gave it to one of his lieutenants, Guy de Lévis. Raymond Roger von Foix reconquered Mirepoix in 1223 and re-installed the Cathar Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix. After the Treaty of Paris (1229), that ended the Albigensian Crusade and the political autonomy of Occitan, the town was given back to Guy de Lévis, whose son moved the town after a devasting flood (1289) to higher grounds and had it rebuilt as a "bastide". This layout was never changed, so in the center is a large rectangular place, named today "Place du Maréchal-Leclerc". The erection of the church started in 1298 and the construction continued over centuries. The structure, completed in the typical "gothique méridional" style, was restored in the 19th century by Prosper Mérimée and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The parish church was between 1317 and 1801 the seat of the Bishop of Mirepoix. In the early 14th century many small and very small dioceses were founded within the former Cathar area. Mirepoix was one of them. Other dioceses were founded eg in Saint Papoul (1317-1801 / 40kms north) and Alet-le-Bains (1318-1801 / 40kms east).

Mirepoix, part of the independent fiefdom of Foix, was a stronghold of the Cathars, who held a council here in 1206. Only 3 years later (1209) Simon de Montfort´s armee captured the town after a siege. He gave it to one of his lieutenants, Guy de Lévis. Raymond Roger von Foix reconquered Mirepoix in 1223 and re-installed the Cathar Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix. After the Treaty of Paris (1229), that ended the Albigensian Crusade and the political autonomy of Occitan, the town was given back to Guy de Lévis, whose son moved the town after a devasting flood (1289) to higher grounds and had it rebuilt as a "bastide". This layout was never changed, so in the center is a large rectangular place, named today "Place du Maréchal-Leclerc". The nice 19th century market hall and the Cathédrale Saint-Maurice are in the center of the "bastide". The erection of the Mirepoix Cathedral started in 1298 and the construction continued over centuries. The cathedral completed in the typical "gothique méridional" style was restored in the 19th century by Prosper Mérimée and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The parish church was between 1317 and 1801 the seat of the Bishop of Mirepoix.

In 1642 Les Ormes became a barony with the right of market. "Les Halles" seen here may be some decades younger.