The Chinon Gate - restoration of the gates themselves

The first project of the Fonds de Dotation - the newly formed Richelieu Endowment Fund

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The northern Chinon Gate in the town's encircling walls

The two leaves of the historic Porte de Chinon have been restored to working condition by the company Menuiserie Guérin Frères of Pouzay - a village 10km away from Richelieu.  The gates have been rehung and the ensemble opened in a ceremony led by Richelieu's Mayor Novelli.  The detailed restoration work took the old broken fragments of the original 17th century gate leaves and incorporated new work - of 200 year old Normandy oak - to rebuild them back to more-or-less original condition.

before 1

before 2

2013 painted ochre...

             

This is the first project that represents works helped by the new Fonds de Dotation.  Half of the 30,000€ cost was met by the state and 50% by the town itself, including finance from the newly established endowment fund.

roads blocked off while the doors are installed

half original, half new - careful piecing in

Installing the doors

Refurbished metal work from the original doors

White van men do their stuff

Erecting the two tonne door leaves

Patched in Normandy oak added to the 17th C  original

Oak and masonry, in 17th century style

Frères Guérin finish off the exterior

Mayor Novelli cuts the ribbon with Mme. Bartelémy of Bâtiments de France

Madamoiselle Bartelémy tries the wicket gate for size - in wellies!

a panorama of the porte de Chinon from the North

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How was the porte de Chinon intended to be?
Archit. Henri Proust speculates on behalf of architects Jaques Lemercier and Jean Marot.
Marot is thought to be the design architect of the town's elegant gates.

drawbridge down

drawbridge up

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