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 housing shops. The square, designed in precise geometric proportions, was to be lined with four prominent pavilions, two of which were actually built, such as the stone town hall (1777).

The reconstruction followed a rational model, with harmonized facades and roofs, as evidenced by the inclusion of this building in the inventory of Historical Monuments in 1953. The two pavilions on one of the large sides of the square were never built, leaving room for a post office hotel built in 1900. The building, today a private property, illustrates the architectural heritage of the Enlightenment in Châteaudun, marked by a desire for symmetry and urban functionality.

Hardouin's project reflected the urbanistic ideals of the time, combining classical aesthetics and social organization. The arcades, intended for the shops, were to animate the economic life around the square, while the public buildings (like the town hall) affirmed municipal power. Although partially realized, this plan has long-term structured the city centre, with elements such as the protected facades of this building, classified for their heritage value.

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