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The town hall in Oudenaarde was built between 1526 and 1538 by Hendrik Van Pede, a master builder from Brussels. This was after the demolition of the Romanesque Aldermen’s House to which the existing Cloth Hall, in Doornik limestone, was connected.
The town hall is a perfect example of the classical tendency in Late Brabant Gothic and is notable for its symmetry and well-balanced composition.
In the centre is the belfry with loggia (Heritage of the UNESCO). The tower was the medieval symbol of the town’s privileges. It had a carillon that was preserved until the 19th century.
The crown and gilded eagles symbolise the empire of the then ruler, Emperor Charles V. The crown is surmounted by the statue of ‘Hans the Warrior’.
In front of the town hall stands the Royal Fountain, built during the reign of Louis XIV in 1676
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The architectural history of the De Lalaing House goes back to the 16th century. The name refers to the De Lalaing family who owned it from 1519 onwards. Today the stately mansion has an 18th-century rococo façade, a style which has also been used in the decoration of the salons. The rear façade is 17th-century.
The De Lalaing House is also probably the birthplace of Margaret of Parma, the illegitimate daughter of the emperor Charles V.
Behind the house lies a beautiful garden graced by an ancient Ginkgo Biloba tree.
Today it houses the workshop for the restoration of Oudenaarde tapestries and a studio specialised in the weaving of modern tapestries.
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