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Origin and history

Dunois Castle, located in Beaugency, Loiret, is a seigneurial residence built between the 15th and 16th centuries. Originally owned by the lords of Beaugency, he then passed to the kings of France and the Dukes of Orleans until the Revolution. The monument is best known for having been the home of Jean de Dunois, a companion of arms of Jeanne d'Arc, who undertook important work there between 1450 and 1460, transforming the medieval ruins into a Gothic house with a Saint George chapel and galleries on two levels.

In the 16th century, Cardinal Jean d'Orléans-Longueville, grandson of Dunois, added a Renaissance wing (the so-called Longueville wing) and a pavilion, while rearranging the staircase with screws and creating vaulted cabinets. The castle, which witnessed the wars of Religion and royal visits like that of Francis I in 1519, was partially destroyed during the religious conflicts (1568-1572), before being restored. After the Revolution, it became a begging depot (1840-1925), and then housed the Orléan Museum until 2002.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1926, the castle was bought by a private in 2012 and reopened in 2014 after restoration. Since 2021, it has been combining historical heritage and digital arts, offering immersive exhibitions. The site preserves medieval elements such as the Roman dungeon (Caesar Tower, 11th century), filled ditches transformed into hanging gardens, and a court of honor. Its architecture reflects stylistic evolutions, from Gothic to Renaissance, marked by its illustrious occupants.

The castle is inseparable from the history of the Loire Valley, especially during the Hundred Years War. Freed from English occupation in 1429 by Jeanne d'Arc, it symbolizes French resistance. The Romanesque fortifications of the medieval bridge, destroyed in 1767, and the remains of the Collège Notre-Dame recall its strategic role. Today, the monument is part of the tourist circuits of the Loire and Loire castles by bike, while preserving its dual museum and cultural vocation.

Among the notable episodes are the visit of Louis XI, the massacres of the Saint-Barthélemy in 1572, or the transformation of the castle into a bakery and workshop under the beggars' depot. Among its artistic treasures are the frescoes of the L'oratory of Cardinal Longueville, called the "Oratory of Jeanne d'Arc", and the stained glass windows of the chapel of Saint Georges (14th century). The suspended garden, reconstructed in identical 16th century, offers views of the Loire, 200 metres from the castle.

In 2015, the castle hosted the filming of the show Secrets d'Histoire dedicated to Jeanne d'Arc, highlighting its link with this emblematic figure. The latest restorations have made it possible to highlight its interior spaces, such as the two-level galleries or the castral chapel, while integrating modern technologies for an innovative visitor experience. The dungeon, the only vestige of the 11th century, still dominates the city, testifying to its military past.

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