Ancienne chapelle Notre-Dame du Champdé

The former chapel of Notre-Dame du Champdé in Châteaudun survives today only as a single facade — one that now works as a monumental gateway into the town's Champdé cemetery. It's an unusual case: a building that was essentially destroyed in the 19th century, yet whose remaining fragment was judged important enough to be protected and restored, so it still tells a story worth stopping for.

What is actually left to see?

What you'll find on site is the western facade of the old chapel, topped by a small bell turret. The portal is built in the late Flamboyant Gothic style: a tall pointed-arch frame surrounds two basket-handle doorways, flanked by carved buttresses. This is the one part of the chapel that survived its 19th-century destruction, and it was considered fine enough architecturally to be saved rather than cleared away entirely.

Look closely at the stonework — the carved buttresses and the moulded profile of the arch are the clearest evidence of the craftsmanship behind the original 16th-century build. Everything else, the nave and the interior of the chapel, is gone; only the facade was kept and repurposed.

What's the history behind it?

The chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built at the start of the 16th century as a place of Marian devotion. It served the local community for centuries until 1878, when it was struck by lightning and completely destroyed. The fire and collapse left only the western facade and its portal standing.

The following year, on 3 February 1879, the surviving facade was listed as a monument historique — France's legal designation for protected heritage sites. Recognition of the portal's architectural value led to a consolidation and restoration campaign in 1887. Since then, the facade has served as an ornamental, monumental entrance to the adjoining Champdé cemetery, giving a piece of medieval religious architecture a new practical role.

How do you get to the chapel facade?

The site sits in Châteaudun, in the Eure-et-Loir department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, at approximately 48.068°N, 1.335°E. The facade stands at the entrance to the Champdé cemetery, so there's no ticket or booking involved — it's open public space, like any municipal cemetery.

The easiest approach is to fold a short stop here into a walk around central Châteaudun, which is best known for its castle and medieval streets. Because the site functions as a cemetery gateway, it's worth keeping visits low-key and being discreet with photography.

When's the best time to visit?

Since this is an outdoor, freely accessible site, it can be visited year-round. Morning or late-afternoon light works best for photographing the carved stonework, as side-lighting brings out the depth of the portal's details. It's considerate to avoid visiting during funeral services taking place in the cemetery.

Frequently asked questions

Is there anything left of the chapel besides the facade? No — after being struck by lightning in 1878, only the western facade with its portal and small bell turret survived. The rest of the building was demolished.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the facade stands on the grounds of the public Champdé cemetery and can be visited free of charge, without the fixed hours typical of ticketed attractions.

Why is this facade a protected monument? Because of the architectural quality of its Flamboyant Gothic portal. It was listed as a monument historique by decree on 3 February 1879, just a year after the rest of the chapel was destroyed.

What is the facade used for today? Following its 1887 restoration, it now serves as the monumental entrance gateway to the Champdé cemetery in Châteaudun.