ANCIENNE SOUS-PRÉFECTURE

Former sub-prefecture dating from 1864 to 1926 in the Napoleon III style. The town of Paimboeuf became a sub-prefecture in 1800. The Paimboeuf arrondissement included its canton, as well as Bourgneuf-en-Retz, Le Pellerin, Pornic and Saint-Père-en-Retz. For almost half a century, the sub-prefecture’s offices were housed in existing buildings, including 35 rue Pierre Jubeau. But in 1863, the département acquired a property to build a sub-prefecture. The department’s architect, Mr Gustave Bourgerel, was responsible for the construction. Unfortunately, in 1926, Paimboeuf lost its status as sub-prefecture to Saint-Nazaire. The buildings were bought by the commune in 1934 to house the town hall. Accessible from the quayside by a few steps, the large entrance hall was centred around four offices on the ground floor. A flat was located upstairs. The first floor was reserved for the kitchen, laundry and cellars. Two staircases, one of which was a service staircase, distributed the hotel: the first, which was open-plan and anchored in the south-west corner, served the flat on the first floor; the second served all levels up to the attic. On either side of the courtyard to the south were the caretaker’s lodge and the stables (to the west).