Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

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.

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