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 lined with public buildings and uniform houses. This square, designed in precise geometric proportions, was originally to accommodate four large protruding pavilions, two of which were later replaced by the Town Hall (1777) and a Post Hotel (1900).

The facades and roofs of this building, overlooking the Place du 18-Octobre and returning to the streets of Chartres and Toutfaire, were protected by a decree of inscription under the title of the Historical Monuments on 18 August 1953. Their style reflects the regular and orderly architecture advocated by Hardouin, marked by arcades intended to house shops. The initial project, partially realized, illustrates the urban ambitions of the eighteenth century, combining commercial functionality and classical aesthetics.

The exact address of the building, located in 31 Place du 18-October, corresponds to the heart of this reconstruction plan. Although some planned architectural elements have never been created (such as the missing pavilions), the ensemble maintains a consistency that reflects the urban history of Châteaudun. The GPS location, considered satisfactory a priori, allows to identify this heritage in its original spatial context.

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