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Origin and history

Mondoubleau Castle, built in the early 11th century (ca. 1010-1040) by Hugues Ier Doubleau, is an early example of a circular stone dungeon, rare for this time. Built with the permission of Count Eudes II of Blois, it marks the power of the seigneurial family of Mondoubleau, linked to the Viscounts of Vendôme by the marriage of Hugues I with Adèle Le Riche. This fortified castle, located at the highest point of the city, symbolized feudal domination over the Perche Vendômois region, at the border between the influences of the Counts of Blois and Anjou.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands through marriage alliances and sales. In the 12th century he passed to the lords of Fréteval, then to the Viscounts of Châteaudun by the marriage of Helvise of Fréteval with Geoffroy III of Châteaudun. In the 15th century Mondoubleau was integrated into the county of Vendôme by Louis I of Bourbon-Vendôme (1406), before being temporarily owned by the family of Escoubleau de Sourdis (from 1593), then returned to the Crown under Henry IV. The castle, now in ruins, was inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1926 for its dungeon, a major architectural witness of the feudal era.

The town of Mondoubleau, surrounded by fortifications (also registered in 1926), was an important administrative center: the seat of a provost, a senes floor, and a bailiwick before the Revolution. His history is marked by notable judicial episodes, such as the trial of Renée de Vendômois (late 15th century), where the chestnut Jean de Courcillon played a controversial role. The area, agricultural and wooded, also preserved traces of a Benedictine monastery destroyed in the 13th century and of a maladry (destructed in 1737), reflecting its religious and charitable past.

Architecturally, the castle is distinguished by its 11th century dungeon, one of the first in France to combine a circular shape and a stone construction, innovative for the period. The current ruins, owned by the commune, recall its strategic role in feudal conflicts and its gradual integration into the royal domain. The chapel of Gueritus, located on the outskirts of the city, adds a legendary dimension to the local heritage, linked to stories of redemption and miraculous sources.

In the 20th century Mondoubleau, classified as a rural area, saw its economy refocus on agriculture (cereals, oilseeds) and heritage tourism. The castle, although partly in ruins, remains a symbol of the medieval heritage of Perche Vendômois, alongside other protected monuments such as the manor house of Rocheux or the 17th century wooden houses. Its early inscription (1926) underlines its importance in the history of French military architecture.

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