Town hall park

The current town hall is the former Episcopal palace whose construction was started by his Grace Scipion Jérôme Bégon in 1739. The work is based on Nicolas Pierson’s plans.

The begonias (see below) around the main pond are a reminder of the bond between Toul and the many species of these flowers.
The park also has a rich heritage and includes a Ginkgo biloba which is known as the ‘remarkable tree of France’. The Ginkgo biloba of Toul was reportedly brought from Toulon by Admiral Henri de Rigny (born in Toul in 1782 - winner of the Battle of Navarin in 1827 and Minister of Marine and Foreign Affairs under Louis Philippe).

Michel Begon was a Governor in the West Indies (under King Louis XIV) and it was he who sponsored the botanist Charles Plumier who went onto to discover the small herbaceous plants. The latter once back in France named the new plant ‘Begonia’ in tribute to his benefactor. This is the first botanical dedication in honour of a person and which then became a tradition.