Parc de la Chapelle Royale de Dreux

In the borders of three regions, Ile-de-France, Beauce and Normandie, the site of Dreux is a strategic place with its castle built during the first time of the Middle Ages. Its vestiges testify of the impressive character of the fortress. In this surrounding wall, a big Romanic collegiate church were built in the XIIth century; this church gave up its place to a new chapel built at the instance of the duchess of Orléans (duke of Penthièvre’s daughter) after the Revolution. At the Duke’ death in 1821, his son Louis Philippe, duke of Orléans and then King of France, added a neo-Gothic set to the first building in neo-classical style. The Chapel and its surrounding garden dominating the city were achieved in 1841. The landscaped garden decorated by numerous edifices are divided in two different spaces connected by a bridge.
The graves of the family of Orléans and the mausoleum of King Louis Philippe are in this Chapel which preserve a set of recumbent statues constituting an exceptional collection of funeral sculptures. This building is a beautiful example of the XIXth century’ architecture enhanced by the particular brightness of the stained glasses from Sèvres.
All these elements arisen from the talent of the biggest artists from the XIXth century place the Royal Chapel as a privileged witness of its time.