Guided tours of the Nantes Courthouse
Each visit will last approximately 1 hour as follows:
1/ Open to the public a remarkable architectural monument in Nantes (20 minutes)
Jean NOUVEL stresses that the building is designed with respect for history, the landscape, the building of the site as it was at the time of its construction, and its symbolism.
The structure evokes the industrial past of the former Prairie Island to the Duke, thanks to its entirely metal frame and cladding.
The architect also wanted to turn the palace towards the city and affirm his vocation as a pioneer in the urban development of the current island of Nantes. Indeed, the symmetrical composition of the façade affirms the stability of the institution and makes it the reference element of the future landscape. In addition, the palace has an inclined forecourt, in continuity with the quay where the pedestrian walkway VICTOR-SCHOELCHER designed by architects Bernard and Clotilde BARTO to directly serve the building by materializing the reconquest of the island and the extension of the city.
From a symbolic point of view, Jean Nouvel’s architectural project consisted in reinterpreting the heritage in a contemporary way around the notions of fairness, equity, balance and dignity. Access is via the uphill court to better recall the traditional steps of the courts while the monumental awning is supported by a portico that recalls the colonnade of the classical courthouses. The choice of the red and black bichrome strengthens the compactness and strength of the building, supposed virtue of justice, and uses transparency through large glass walls, another necessity of justice.
An exhibition on the work of Jean Nouvel will be presented in the Salle des pas perdus. This will be an opportunity to discover the stages of the process of creation and construction of the courthouse.
2/ Raising awareness of the judicial institution, its functioning and its actors (40 minutes)
This second part of the visit will be divided into workshops around two axes.
2-1) Justice in France, between institution and tradition
Regularly criticized, judicial rituals are much more than dusty traditions. Coming from a distant past, they have two main functions: - to sacralize the judicial institution by giving it a solemnity and also to testify to the importance of the concrete situations that are played out for the litigants - allow the population to identify as belonging to the same society that meets common rules and makes the law an irreplaceable pillar of freedom Will be evoked on this occasion the symbols of justice (the scale, the sword, the headband), the solemn hearings, the swearing-in, the court costume.
Justice is also an institution. It is one of the great sovereign missions such as security or diplomacy. Justice ensures respect for the laws and guarantees the rights of everyone. It is done on behalf of the French people. In France, it is administered by the Ministry of Justice, also known as the Chancery, which is headed by the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Justice.
2-2) Law and justice, a multitude of professions
Over time, the judicial community has continued to enrich itself with new professions. Today, it brings together a wide range of professions composed, on the one hand, of professionals working in a very diverse profession within a single jurisdiction (magistrates, chief clerks, clerks, Category C agents, judicial assistants and judicial officers) and, on the other hand, of auxiliaries of justice, indispensable partners for the proper functioning of the judicial institution (lawyers, lawyers at the Council of State and the Court of Cassation, judicial officers, notaries, judicial experts, mediators and conciliators).
A visit every 30 minutes: Saturday -10:00 -10:30 -11:00
-14h00 -14h30 -15h00 -15h30 -16h00
Sunday -10:00 -10:30 -11:00
-14h00 -14h30 -15h00 -15h30