Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building of Châteaudun is part of the vast reconstruction project of the city after the great 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 realized, including the stone town hall (1777).

The reconstruction followed a rational model, with harmonized facades and roofs, as evidenced by the building located 17 Place du 18-Octobre, whose elements on the square and Gambetta Street were protected by decree of 18 August 1953. The two pavilions on the other side of the square never came into being, later replaced by a post office hotel built in 1900. This project illustrates the urbanisation of the Enlightenment, combining functionality and classical aesthetics.

The building, representative of this time, embodies the desire to modernize Châteaudun after the disaster, integrating regular architectural principles and a visual hierarchy between buildings. Its classification as Historic Monument underlines its importance in the 18th century urban heritage in Eure-et-Loir.

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