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Château de la Pigeonnière à Chailles dans le Loir-et-Cher

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine défensif
Demeure seigneuriale
Château
Loir-et-Cher

Château de la Pigeonnière

    15-33 Rue de la Varenne
    41120 Chailles
Crédit photo : Alessia Smaniotto - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1700
1800
1900
2000
1ère moitié du XVIIe siècle
Initial construction
1858
Restoration and enlargement
20 avril 1989
Historical Monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Façades and roofs of the library with its interior decoration; three Loouis XIII-style chimneys located in the main body of the castle (Box AR 104): inscription by order of 20 April 1989

Key figures

Jules de la Morandière - Owner Directed the restoration of 1858.
Eugène Huet de Froberville - Owner (1840–1930) Family owner for nearly a century.
Chenu et Ulysse Besnard - Painters and decorators Authors of the library decors.
Biberon - Cabinetist Sculpted the flares of the guardrail.

Origin and history

The Château de la Pigeonnière, located in Chailles in the department of Loir-et-Cher, is a building whose oldest parts date back to the first half of the seventeenth century. It has a main quadrangular body flanked by lateral wings and turrets, remains of an ancient fortified castle. The ditches and the four angle turrets (two round and two square) still bear witness to this defensive origin. Inside, the painted decoration of the library, made by Chenu and Ulysse Besnard, as well as the 17th century chimneys, partially painted in the 19th century, illustrate its stylistic evolution.

Very degraded after the French Revolution, the castle was restored and enlarged from 1858 under the direction of Jules de la Morandière. This work campaign incorporated domestic and agricultural elements into the lower wings, while maintaining traces of fortifications, such as square pavilions overlooking the terrace. The furniture, such as wooden flares carved by the cabinetmaker Biberon, reflects this mixture of medieval heritage and beautifications of the third quarter of the 19th century. The castle belonged in particular to Eugene Huet de Froberville and his descendants between the years 1840 and 1930.

Ranked a Historic Monument since April 20, 1989, the castle specifically protects its facades, roofs, the library with its interior decoration, and three Louis XIII style fireplaces. These elements, as well as the remains of fortifications, bear witness to the architectural transformations between Renaissance and modern times in the Loire Valley. The artists and artisans who contributed to its beautification (paintings, cabinetmakers) left a remarkable artistic imprint, especially in interior decors.

External links