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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 commissioned to redraw the city centre according to a chessboard plan, with a large rectangular square surrounded by public buildings and uniform houses. This square, designed to structure the urban space, was originally to consist of four large projecting pavilions, two of which were later replaced by City Hall (1777) and Post Hall (1900).

The facades and roofs of this building, located in Place du 18-Octobre and 2 rue Gambetta, were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 18 August 1953 for their architectural value. Hardouin's initial project included arcades for shops and symmetrical buildings, but only two of the four pavilions planned were realized. The square, now bordered by the town hall and later buildings, partially retains the spirit of the eighteenth century despite subsequent changes.

The location of the building, in the heart of Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir), reflects the importance of this reconstruction in the urban history of the Centre-Val de Loire region. Protected elements, such as stone facades, illustrate the classic style imposed by Hardouin to harmonize the city after the disaster. The fire of 1723 marked a turning point, radically transforming the medieval face of Châteaudun into a rational urban model.

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