Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Palais du Bailliage de Chinon is an emblematic 15th century monument located in the town of Chinon, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. This building, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1962, consists of two bodies of contiguous buildings, with pinions decorated with hooks. A four-storey cylindrical turret, in corbellation, marks the southwest corner. Originally, it housed a royal audience and a common house, playing a central role in local government.

Built above a cellar forming ground floor, the palace was abandoned after the transfer of the courthouse around 1835. Some of its remains are under the current commons, and its extension extended to the church square. The building underwent renovations in the 17th century, then a neo-Gothic restoration in the 19th century, while its interior was modernized. Despite these transformations, its facades and roofs, protected since 1962, still bear witness to its medieval architecture.

The monument illustrates the evolution of judicial and administrative functions in Chinon from royal use to gradual decommissioning. Its history also reflects the urban changes of the city, especially with the construction of the new courthouse in the 19th century. Today, although partially preserved, there remains an architectural testimony of the medieval era and its adaptation to subsequent needs.

External links