The Dome - the last fragment of Richelieu's palace

The NW corner tower is to be restored and renovated

" Here, the Endowment Fund, 

RICHELIEU - THE CARDINAL'S TOWN

 is restoring the town's north-west corner  pavilion

with the sponsorship of enterprises from the canton of Richelieu "

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A project for the restoration and modification of the north-west corner pavilion of the town walls.

This corner pavilion, together with the other three corner towers, was constructed in the 1630s at the same time as the towns girdling walls. It was categorised as a Monument Historique in 1879. Together with the Porte de Chinon, it completes the northern façade of the town. This pavilion has been preserved in an remarkably authentic condition and could become a point of attraction to both the inhabitants and visitors to Richelieu. It could be put at the disposition of benefactors and cultural associations to organise exhibits, re-unions and receptions and act as a temporary exhibition space for a link with of the early 17th century.

On the western façade, the two pairs of tall windows light the ground and first floors within. On the northern façade, a large ‘oculus’ window opens onto the roof’s attic space. The ground area within the pavilion is of only 24 net square metres (240 nsf). The only access to the building is obviously to the interior of the walls by a piece of ground in the ownership of the town that currently accommodates the existing Salle de Fêtes. A redeveloped space in front of the pavilion’s entry door should be anticipated. 

Abandonned for a long time, this pavilion is in a very mediocre state and needs important restoration work to both interior and exterior. It was the subject in the 1990s of a preliminary study carried out by A. de St. Jouan, architecte des Monuments Historiques, with a preliminary estimate to realise the necessary works in the order of 150,000 €.

The Endowment Fund proposes to undertake the phased restoration and redevelopment of this project by returning the pavilion to its 17th century condition – without either water or electricity – so that it conserves a totally original condition. The Fund will be helped by local enterprises and other individuals and benefactors. Finance could follow a pattern of paying for particular elements of the works - the attic, the entry door, the oculus, the ground surfaces, the staircase, the windows, the walls etc.. In the case of original-state restoration, the costs would be smaller with the absence of the costs of modern services. One could also consider the use of the project for apprentice artisanal training on some part or all of the works.

click here for the existing condition of the pavilion

and internal photos

Error in French! - for location read l'emplacement
Silly boy!

Chaussée has TWO 's'es!

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