Châteaudun (pop. 13,000) is located about an hour by car south of Chartres and about an hour north of Blois and Orléans. The town was mentioned by the historian Grégoire de Tours as early as the 6th century. Oddly, the name of the town derives from the Latin name for a castle (
castellum became château in modern French) combined with the Gaulois name,
dun, for a fortress.
Above, two views of a house in Châteaudun that was built in the 1570s.
Construction of the
église de la Madeleine in Châteaudun began in the 12th century and continued on to the 16th.
Above, two views of a house in Châteaudun that was built in the 1570s.
Construction of the église de la Madeleine in Châteaudun began in the 12th century and continued on to the 16th.
This is a photo I took in May 2008 in Châteaudun. I was driving to Paris with CHM that day.
It looks like a lovely town.
ReplyDeleteBettyAnn
The fact that "dun" means fortress explains a lot of town names doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAh! Word origins I did not know, thanks! Thanks for showing us Châteaudun :)
ReplyDeleteMay travels make for beautiful photos with the flowers in full bloom.
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly, this church sits on the edge of a rampart. It is a beautiful building inside.
ReplyDelete