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, building controller, was tasked with developing a new urban plan in chessboard, centered on a large rectangular square. The plan included public buildings, aligned houses, and arcades for shops. Two of the four large pavilions on the sides of the square were built, including the stone town hall (1777), while the others were replaced by a post office hotel in the 20th century.

The place, designed in precise geometric proportions, was to symbolize order and modernity after the disaster. The facades and roofs of this building, overlooking the adjacent square and streets, were protected by an order of 18 August 1953 for their heritage value. Their style reflects the regular and harmonious architecture advocated by Hardouin, characteristic of the 18th century urban reconstructions.

Today, the building illustrates the legacy of this ambitious project, combining public utility and classic aesthetics. Its ranking shows the historical importance of this reconstruction, unique in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The Place du 18-October, where it is located, remains a central place in the city, preserving the memory of this striking episode.

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