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Origin and history

The House of the Chancellery is an emblematic building located in Place du Martroi, in the centre of Orleans (Loiret, region Centre-Val de Loire). Built between 1754 and 1757, it was originally used as a pavilion for the archives of the Duke of Orleans. His plans were drawn up by Hupeau, Inspector General of Ponts et Chaussées, while his execution was entrusted to Robert Soyer, engineer of Ponts et Chaussées. This building illustrates the civil architecture of the 18th century, marked by an administrative and archival function linked to the nobility of the Ancien Régime.

In 1789 the pavilion housed both the Duke of Orléans' intendant and the duchy's archivist, reflecting his central role in the management of the estate's records. Sold as a national property in 1794 after the Revolution, the building changed its vocation in the 19th century: it hosted the Office des couriers générales de France (or Bureau des Diligences) during the first half of this century. This transition reflects the political and economic upheavals of the time, when aristocratic goods were redistributed to public or commercial uses.

The House of Chancellery has been protected as historical monuments since 14 January 1932, with a further classification on 16 September 1941. These measures underline its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its history linked to the Orléans family and revolutionary transformations. Today, it remains a symbol of the Orléan heritage, marked by its administrative past and its integration into the urban fabric of the Place du Martroi.

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