The neoclassical town hall of Charleville stands on a site first destined to become the ducal palace of Charles of Gonzague, the founder of the city. Four pavilions were designed to close Place Ducale at the beginning of the 17th century. The lack of money stopped the project, and only the facade of the southwest pavilion adorned the square for over a century. Its great arch was destroyed during the French Revolution. Charleville's city council eventually revived a project for a new town hall on the same site, completed in 1845. The building comprises a 127 ft high belfry (39 m), the bells of which play the Chant du départ (Song of departure) every half hour.