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Origin and history

The belfry of Dreux, a former town hall built between 1512 and 1537, is a masterpiece of Louis XII-style civil architecture, marking the transition from the flamboyant Gothic to the Renaissance. Commanded after the destruction of the previous building by lightning, it symbolizes Dreux's restored prosperity after the ravages of the Hundred Years War. Three architects succeeded each other: Pierre Chéron (1512), Jean des Moulins (1516), and Clément Métezeau (1520-1537), who completed the building under the reign of François I. Its monumental facade, decorated with pinnacles and skylights, reflects the municipal power and influence of Italian models, such as the castle of Gaillon.

Ranked a historic monument in 1840, the belfry embodies the communal freedoms acquired by the Drouais bourgeois from the twelfth century, confirmed by the charter of Robert I of Dreux in 1180. It once housed the mayor's justice on the ground floor and the city council on the first floor, while its bell, the bench, rhythmized urban life and alerted in case of danger. Damaged during the bombings of 1940 and 1944, it was restored several times, notably by Guy Nicot (1977-1979) to restore its original medieval appearance.

The current bell, melted in 1839, weighs 3,500 kg and takes over the coat of arms of France and Dreux, as well as a frieze illustrating the procession of the torches, a local tradition marking the winter solstice. The belfry, the only one of its kind in Eure-et-Loir, also served as a guard corps under Louis XIV and as a holiday place under Napoleon I. Its clock mechanism and fragile frame now limit its ringtones to ringing, thus preserving its structure.

The building, located in Metezeau Square, has experienced modern controversies, such as the cracks that appeared after the construction of an adjacent underground parking lot, attributed either to the works or to repeated droughts. Despite these hazards, it remains a strong symbol of the drouese identity, celebrated in 2016 for its 500 years. Its architecture, combining ivy vaults, Italian pilasters and flamboyant gables, bears witness to an era of artistic and political renewal.

Inside, the large room on the first floor, vaulted with ivy and third-party trees, housed the communal archives and a weapons store. The second floor, more decorated, served as a grain reserve in the event of a seat. The graffiti of Spanish prisoners of the seventeenth century, engraved in the staircase, recall its use as a jail. Today owned by the municipality, the belfry is open to the public and continues to dominate the historic centre of Dreux.

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