Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building of Châteaudun is part of the vast reconstruction project of the city after the devastating fire of 21 June 1723, which destroyed more than 1,000 houses. Jules Hardouin, the building controller, was tasked with developing a new urban plan in chessboard, centred on a large rectangular square intended to accommodate public buildings and uniform houses. This square, designed in precise geometric proportions, was to be lined with arcades and four prominent pavilions, only two of which were made, like the stone town hall erected in 1777.

The reconstruction followed a rational model, with harmonized facades and roofs, now protected under the Historical Monuments since 1953. The original project provided for symmetrical pavilions on the large sides of the square, but one of them was replaced in the 20th century by the Post Hall, built in 1900. The preserved elements, such as the returns to the streets of Marshal-Lyautey and Madeleine, illustrate the urbanistic ambition of the time, mixing functionality and classical aesthetics.

The current address of the building, 6 Place du 18-October, corresponds to the strategic location chosen to structure the new heart of Châteaudun. Although some elements of the original plan have not been realized, such as the two missing pavilions, the set retains remarkable architectural consistency. The facades, typical of the 18th century, reflect the influence of classical principles advocated by royal architects, while meeting the needs of a city undergoing reconstruction after a disaster.

External links