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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Bellegarde Castle, also known as the Hospital Castle, is an emblematic monument of the Loiret, marked by a rich and varied history. Its origin dates back to the 14th century, when Nicolas Braque, lord of the place, built the square dungeon with four turrets in corbellation between 1355 and 1376. Inaugurated by King Charles V the Sage in 1376, the castle then passed to his daughter Jeanne, wife of Jean de l'Hospital, marking the beginning of a seigneurial lineage that will shape the estate for centuries. The foundations of the site, however, date back much earlier, with a first mention of a strong wooden house in the tenth century (Téduin Charter, 984), replaced by a stone dungeon in the twelfth century.

In the 17th century, the castle underwent a major transformation under the impetus of Jacques de l'Hospital (1578–1635), the last Count and first Marquis of Choisy-aux-Loges. He added the Ondes pavilion west of the dungeon, with a wrought iron staircase, and built the captain tower (now a dwelling under Louis XV). The estate was enriched with barns and outbuildings, while Roger de Saint-Lary obtained the title of Duke of Bellegarde in 1646. The castle, designed by Claude Chastillon and described by Dom Morin, then embodies the aristocratic fascist of the time.

In 1692 the Duke of Antin (son of Mme de Montespan) acquired the castle and undertook ambitious works. Between 1715 and 1724, he reorganized the courses to install his stables and apartments, adding the pavilions of Antin, Salamandre (now town hall) and the Superintendency. The gardens, inspired by those of Meudon, are furnished with terraces, beds and groves, with an island and a large room of water. The Duke pierced high windows in the dungeon, modernizing its appearance. In 1782 the Marquis de Villennes added a neo-Greek staircase on the southern facade, signed by architect Viel.

The 19th century marked a decline: the Duke of Antin's grid, removed by the Allies in 1815, was replaced in 1836. In the 20th century, the castle became a public place, hosting the town hall and exhibitions. Partially classified as historical monuments (1928, 1937, 1969), it preserves medieval elements (donjon, moat) and classical elements (pavillons, stairs). His gardens, which had disappeared, were known thanks to the plans of the royal surveyor Hyppolite Matis (1715–24), describing an ensemble where nature and art were balanced, inspired by the royal models of Meudon and Saint-Mandé.

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