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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 instructed to draw up an urban plan in chess, centered 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 large projecting buildings, only two of which were realized, like the stone town hall erected in 1777.

The reconstruction followed a rational model, with harmonized facades and roofs, as evidenced by this building whose elements overlooking the Place du 18-Octobre (formerly central square) and rue Gambetta have been protected since 1953. The original project also included two monumental pavilions on the opposite side of the square, finally replaced by a post office hotel built in 1900, marking a later architectural development.

The 1723 fire marked a turning point in the urban history of Châteaudun, transforming its centre into an early example of planned urban planning in France. Hardouin's aesthetic and functional choices, inspired by classical principles, sought to modernize the city while affirming its prestige. Today, the facades and roofs of this building, typical of the eighteenth century, illustrate this reconstructed heritage, combining geometric rigour and architectural elegance.

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