Timeline

Origin and history

The ruins of the Château d'Illiers-Combray, located in the municipality of the same name in the region Centre-Val de Loire, correspond mainly to an entrance pavilion dating from the 16th century. This architectural vestige, classified as Historic Monument since 1930, is distinguished by elements characteristic of its era, such as a broken arch gate with two rows of harpsichords and embossed foothills. The windows, though deprived of their splints, and a carved gable-tunnel do still testify to the careful ornamentation of the building.

The pavilion, the only element protected by the decree of 22 March 1930, illustrates the civil architecture of the French Renaissance in this region. Its present state of ruins suggests a gradual deterioration, but its inscription as Historic Monuments underscores its heritage importance. The approximate location, noted as 'passable' (level 5/10), places the site at the address 7 Rue du Château, in a typical rural setting of Eure-et-Loir.

In the Renaissance, castles and pavilions such as Illers-Combray often served as secondary residences for the aristocracy or the affluent bourgeoisie, reflecting their economic and social power. In the Centre-Val de Loire, a region marked by the presence of numerous Renaissance buildings, these buildings also played a role in the territorial organisation, between agricultural areas and communication axes. Their architecture, combining carved decorations and residual defensive structures, symbolized the transition between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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