Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle called the Oratory of Courtiras, located in Vendôme in the Loir-et-Cher, is an 18th century building whose architectural complex has not been modified since its construction. The main house is extended to the west by a wing whose enfilade pieces preserve 18th century woodwork and stone fireplaces of Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. To the east of the courtyard, a large easement building surrounds a chapel perpendicular to it, while another building closes the courtyard to the west, including a circular escape. These elements, as well as the wrought iron gate, have been protected under the Historic Monuments since 1974.

The farm yard is bordered by a 16th century servitude building, reflecting the evolution of the estate over the centuries. The Oratory of Courtiras thus reflects the typical organization of the aristocratic or bourgeois properties of the region, combining seigneurial habitat, places of worship and agricultural activities. Its architecture and interior design, preserved in their entirety, offer a remarkable example of the rural art of living in the Enlightenment century.

Vendôme, where the castle is located, is a city marked by a rich medieval history, especially linked to the Bourbon-Vendôme family. In the 18th century, the city, then a simple administrative election, preserved traces of its prestigious past while adapting to the economic and social transformations of the period. Religious and civil buildings, such as the Oratory, illustrate this transition from the Old Regime to the coming revolutionary upheavals. The region, located between the Beauce and the Perche, enjoys a diverse architectural heritage, of which this castle is a discreet but significant representative.

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