Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Frazé, located in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the Centre-Val de Loire region, has its origins at the end of the 15th century. Built on an ancient feudal motte after its destruction during the Hundred Years War, it was rebuilt around 1500 by Florentin Girard, lord of Barenton, with the permission of his suzerain. The remains of this era include a fortified entrance with mâchicoulis, turrets and a facade decorated with Renaissance elements. The castle was surrounded by an artificial pond and had a square structure with corner towers.

In the 16th century, a Renaissance-style building was added, followed by extensions in the 17th and 18th centuries, including communes and a French-style park. The ditch surrounding the castle was filled in 1824, and the park was equipped with terraces, alleyways, perrons, 18th-century statues and a canal. The castle, classified as a Historic Monument in 1948, was renovated in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it is open to visit and bears witness to the architectural evolution over centuries.

The castle is part of a typical landscape of the Perche, surrounded by wooded hills and crossed by the Foussard river. It is one of the four historical monuments of Frazé, alongside the Notre-Dame church, the châtelier mansion and the Cormier mansion. These buildings illustrate the rich architectural heritage of this rural commune, marked by its medieval history and its role in the region.

Frazé, ranked among the most beautiful villages in Perche, was highlighted in 2019 in the show Le Village preferré des Français, where she finished in 10th place. The castle, with its park and commons, remains a symbol of the historical and cultural heritage of the commune, attracting visitors for its unique mix of styles and its preserved setting.

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