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Key figures

Origin and history

The Castle of the Source is a 17th century building built around 1633 according to the plans of architect Charles Turmel. Located in Orléans, in the Loiret department, it dominates the Loiret d ́eau mirror and is in the immediate vicinity of the source called "Le Bouillon". Accessible by tram line A and departmental road 14, it is integrated into the natural landscape of the Loire Valley, at about 104 meters above sea level.

In the 18th century, the castle welcomed notable personalities: Henry St John, first Viscount Bolingbroke, a noble English exiled between 1710 and 1723, resided there as a tenant. Voltaire also gave the first reading of La Henriade, a major work of his literary career. Although not confirmed by reliable sources, Napoleon I's stay is sometimes mentioned.

The monument played a strategic role after the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout and his staff settled there to organize the dismantling of the Loire Army, the last vestige of the Great Army. Today, the castle houses the administrative services of the University of Orleans, perpetuating its anchor in local life.

Its immediate environment includes the Floral Park of La Source, enhancing its tourist and cultural appeal. The district of Orléans-la-Source, where it stands, derives its name from this geographical and historical proximity to the estate.

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