Chapelle royale de Dreux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Chapel of Dreux |
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Chapelle royale de Dreux
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| Alternative names | Chapelle Saint-Louis de Dreux |
| General information | |
| Type | Chapel |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Address | Rue de Penthièvre, Dreux, France |
| Coordinates | 48°44′18″N 1°21′48″E / 48.73833°N 1.36333°E |
| Construction started | 1816 |
| Renovated | 1830s |
| Owner | Fondation Saint-Louis |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Claude-Philippe Cramail (original building) Pierre-Bernard Lefranc (renovations) |
| Designations | Monument historique |
The Royal Chapel of Dreux (French: Chapelle royale de Dreux) is in Dreux, France. It is a special burial place for members of the House of Orléans, a famous French royal family.
This chapel is an important early example of Gothic Revival architecture in France. This style brings back the look of medieval Gothic buildings. Even though it has a dome, it shows many Gothic features. Starting in 1828, amazing stained-glass windows were made for King Louis-Philippe I. These windows were created by the Sèvres porcelain factory.
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A Special Burial Place
In the 1770s, a very rich nobleman named Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, owned a lot of land in France. In 1775, King Louis XVI gave him the lands of Dreux. Later, in 1783, the Duke of Penthièvre sold his home in Rambouillet to King Louis XVI.
The Duke then moved the remains of his family members to a chapel in Dreux. This included his parents, his wife, and six of his seven children.
A Difficult Time
The Duke of Penthièvre died in March 1793. He was buried in the crypt with his family. However, this was during the French Revolution, a time of great change in France. On November 21, 1793, a crowd broke into the crypt. They removed the bodies and threw them into a mass grave.
Building the Royal Chapel
Years later, in 1816, the Duke of Penthièvre's daughter, the Duchess of Orléans, decided to build a new chapel. She wanted it on the exact spot of the mass grave. This new chapel would be a proper resting place for her family.
In 1830, her son, Louis Philippe I, became King of the French. He made the chapel even bigger and more beautiful. It was then renamed the Royal Chapel of Dreux. Today, it is the main burial site for the Orléans royal family.
In 1977, the French government recognized the chapel as a protected monument historique. This means it is an important national heritage site.
Important People Buried Here
The Royal Chapel of Dreux is the final resting place for many members of the Orléans family. Over seventy-five people are buried here. Some of the most notable include:
- Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre (1725-1793), who first moved his family's remains to Dreux.
- Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon (1753–1821), his daughter, who started building the current chapel.
- Louis Philippe I (1773–1850), King of the French, who expanded the chapel.
- Princess Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies (1782–1866), wife of King Louis Philippe I.
- Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1810–1842), a son of King Louis Philippe I.
- Many other princes, princesses, dukes, and duchesses from the Orléans family throughout history.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla real de Dreux para niños
- List of works by James Pradier
