Fire of Châteaudun 21 juin 1723 (≈ 1723)
Destruction of more than 1,000 homes.
1777
Construction of city hall
Construction of city hall 1777 (≈ 1777)
Stone building on the square.
18 août 1953
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 18 août 1953 (≈ 1953)
Protection of facades and roofs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs (Case A 426): inscription by order of 18 August 1953
Key figures
Jules Hardouin - Building Controller
Author of the reconstruction plan.
Origin and history
On 21 June 1723 a fire ravaged Châteaudun, destroying more than a thousand houses. Jules Hardouin, building controller, was responsible for the reconstruction of the city centre. He designed a chessboard plan centered on a large rectangular square, surrounded by arcade shops and public buildings. Two pavilions on the square were never built, later replaced by a post office in 1900.
The square, designed in precise geometric proportions, was designed to accommodate four large projecting buildings, two of which were realized: the stone town hall (1777) and a building whose facades and roofs were inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1953. This project illustrates the rational urban planning of the eighteenth century, combining functionality and classical aesthetics.
The current address, Place du 18-October and 4 rue de Chartres, corresponds to the original location of the Hardouin Plan. Although partially modified (such as the addition of the Post Hotel in 1900), the ensemble retains traces of the original project, including arcades and the alignment of facades. The current GPS location points to rue Jean Moulin, close to the historic site.
