The buildings around the Town Hall, Rue des Merciers and Rue du Palais were built with two exits; one along the main street, and a second along a parallel thoroughfare. The oldest (15C) are half-timbered and covered with slate tiles to protect them from the rain and sea spray. With their worn paving stones, secret passageways that are sometimes arched, and sombre "porches" used by pedestrians, the old streets here are teeming with atmosphere.