Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château Museum originated in the 1970s when Master Jean Song, notary in Dourdan, transformed a private house into an exhibition space for local collections (tables, weapons, ancient books). From 1977, under the impetus of the first curator, the museum was structured and enriched with archaeological pieces (gallo-Roman, medieval), religious objects from the former Hôtel-Dieu in Dourdan, and decorative art (ceramics, furniture). Its setting, an 18th-century salt attic renovated as a Gothic neo-house in the 19th century by Joseph Guyot, adds to its unique character.

The museum is inseparable from Dourdan Castle, a 13th-century building built by Philippe Auguste, transformed into a royal prison in 1672 and then departmental until 1852. Acquired by the Guyot family in 1863, the castle was restored and partially converted into a municipal museum. In 1969, the town of Dourdan became its owner. Between 2018 and 2019, a modern extension of 132 m2 is built to improve reception and museum, while remaining demountable to allow future archaeological excavations.

The collections cover various fields: archaeology (gallo-Roman pottery), fine arts (paintings, sculptures), local history (archives, digital tools such as tactile models or a 3D film), and natural sciences (ornithology). The museum highlights the architectural evolution of the Philippian castle through five models, while preserving the eclectic decorations of the house-museum. Labeled Museum of France, it combines material heritage and educational innovations to make the history of the monument accessible.

The official address of the museum is located Place du Général de Gaulle in Dourdan (Essonne, Île-de-France), although its name evokes Authon-la-Plaine, a neighbouring commune. This geographical precision reflects its anchoring in the territory of the former Dourdan County, marked by the medieval heritage and transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries.

External links