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Château and medieval town

10 centuries of history

11th century

The origins of the Château de Beaugency

Constructed on the initiative of the lords of Beaugency, the Roman-style manor house controlled access to the bridge over the Loire at that time. It formed part of an imposing castle complex, organised around a vast sloping courtyard, the sole access to which was through the barrier gate.

To the west, the courtyard is still dominated by the Roman-style square keep, while the various buildings of the abbey of the canons regular are organised to the south: the 12th-century abbey church and collegiate church. In the northeast lies the lord’s manor house, now the Château de Beaugency.

13th century

Construction of the chapel

This building, dedicated to St George, was constructed in the 14th century by royal decree. A new construction is likely to have replaced an older chapel.

It is covered by a panelled roof, with the western gable holding a large three-part window, all crowned by a multi-foil intrados oculus.
source Daniel Bontemps
15th century

Restoration of the château by Jean Dunois

Charles of Orléans asked his half-brother Jean Dunois and his wife Marie of Harcourt to take up residence in the Château de Beaugency. Thanks to the intervention of Jean of Harcourt, who bought the château from Charles of Orléans, Jean and Marie enjoyed the house without being named its owners.

Major restoration works were then launched, since the château was in ruins. The building grew. It was extended with two wings, a gallery, offices and towers looking down over defensive ditches.

16th century

Expansion and modernisation by Jean d’Orléans-Longueville

The remarkable Renaissance-style developments of the château were carried out by Jean d’Orléans-Longueville, the grandson of Jean Dunois. Among other things, casements were constructed or restored, and the former staircase in the garden tower replaced by reading rooms.

The hanging garden to the east of the château (created in the former ditches) is also the work of Jean d’Orléans-Longueville. But his most significant creation is the house, which is sadly no longer visible today. Only the ‘Longueville’ corner turret gives a glimpse of the quality of this lost building.

From 16th to 19th century

Life at the château through war and upheaval

For over 2 centuries, the château bore witness to religious wars and the transformation of the medieval town of Beaugency into its present-day form. Although not directly impacted by these events, its architectural context was radically affected.
The Notre-Dame collegiate church burnt down and was then rebuilt in the 16th century, the interiors of the keep and its roof were damaged by the fire but never rebuilt, part of the town’s fortifications were pulled down and the bridge over the Loire transformed to ensure a broader route between the southern and northern banks of the river.
Following the French Revolution, the château was finally sold as a national asset.

19th century

The beggars’ asylum

At the turn of the 19th century, Baron Henri Siméon, Prefect of the Loiret, decided that his Department should have a beggar’s asylum. On the initiative of Lorin de Chaffin, the Château de Beaugency was chosen to house this institution.

Significant building work began in 1839 for the château to welcome 150 beggars. Among other things, a new area was constructed for women and children beside the St George Chapel, an existing building in the garden was raised and reserved exclusively for the ‘old’ and finally, the north wing of the château, which contained the offices, was completely reorganised. It is now the arcade wing.

1926

Protection of the château as a historic monument

The 20th century saw a growing enthusiasm for remarkable buildings. Château de Beaugency thus secured two-fold protection: the lord’s manor, the garden tower, the round tower and the square tower were added to the additional list of historical monuments, while the arcade wing, southern gallery and former house of Jean d’Orléans-Longueville were included on the same list.

Between 1928 and 2018

Daniel Vannier musesums, holiday camp and J. Dunois Museum

Still owned by the Department, the château has been home to the Museum of 19th-century Orléans Life for more than 7 decades.
Alongside this, the monument plays host to a summer camp during the holidays.
Purchased by a private owner, it remained a museum until 2018 comprising fifteen rooms reconstructed based on analyses of documents from historical archives.

From 2021 onwards

Digital art centre

In spring 2021, the Château de Beaugency was converted into a space dedicated to heritage and the Digital Arts, with a space for artists in residence, a transmission and mediation site and a hub for creative teamwork.

They have been owners of the Château de Beaugency
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Raoul I & Raoul II

The Lords of Beaugency

1292

Philippe le Bel

The King of France

1316

Clémence de Hongrie

At the death of Louis X, king of France

1343

Jeanne de Bourgogne

Wife of King Philippe VI of France

1344

Philippe de Valois

1st Duke of Orleans

1394 - 1465

Charles d’Orléans

Brother of Jean Dunois

1403 - 1468

Jean Dunois

Batard of Orléans and Marie Harcourt

1484 - 1533

Jean d’Orleans - Longueville

Cardinal

1468 à 1789

Family of Orleans

Until the French revolution