Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Alluyes, located in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the region Centre-Val de Loire, has its origins between the 12th and 13th centuries, with major enlargements in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its iconic dungeon, registered in 1925, bears witness to its initial defensive role, while its entrance gate and chapel Saint-Nicolas, classified in 1980, illustrate its architectural evolution. The fortress was occupied by the English during the 14th and 15th centuries, then transformed into a marquisate by Henry IV for Gabrielle d'Estrées.

In the 13th century, Hervé IV de Donzy, Count of Nevers, organized the watering of the ditches by turning the Loir, thus strengthening the defenses of the castle. The seigneury passed into the hands of notable figures such as Charles de France (king of Sicily in 1268), Louis de Luxembourg, and Jacques d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours. Florimond Robertet, secretary of kings Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I, also left his mark at the turn of the 16th century.

The castle is inseparable from local history, with prehistoric remains in the vicinity (dolmens, menhirs) and a central role in medieval conflicts. The battle avoided in 574 between Chilpéric and Sigebert near Alluyes underscores its strategic seniority. In the 16th century, the site became a resort for Henry IV and his favourite, before being partially dismantled in the 19th century.

Today, the castle retains remarkable medieval elements, such as its 12th century master tower and Gothic paintings in the chapel. Its history reflects the political and architectural transformations of the region, from the Gaulish Carnuts to the Renaissance changes, to the English occupation during the Hundred Years War.

The municipality of Alluyes, crossed by the Loir, also houses the church of Notre-Dame (XIIe-XVIe centuries), classified in 1994, which houses a rare Dit of the three dead and the three alive. This dual heritage — castle and church — illustrates the religious and seigneurial importance of the village throughout the ages.

External links