Located near Sainte-Croix Cathedral, the Hôtel Groslot, with its red brick façade, is a magnificent Renaissance building constructed between 1549 and 1558 for the Bailiff of the city , Jacques Groslot . The work was entrusted to the architect Jacques Androuet du Cerceau . Charles IX, Henry III, and Henry IV were among its illustrious guests.
This private residence was transformed into a town hall after the French Revolution . It underwent significant changes during this period. An extension was added with two new wings, and the decoration was largely redesigned. Its interior was restored by the architect Delton in 1850, and a statue of Joan of Arc, created by Princess Marie d'Orléans, was placed on the town hall's steps.
Today, visitors can explore the grand reception room, the former council chamber, and the former mayor's office . Not forgetting the wedding hall, the very room where Francis II died, having come with his mother Catherine de Medici and his wife Mary Stuart to preside over the Estates General in 1560. The Hôtel Groslot contains many exceptional pieces, such as Aubusson tapestries, a wooden chest given by Louis XI to the canons of Saint-Aignan, and a painting by Depuy depicting the death of King Francis II in this historically significant place. A fascinating residence to discover.
Visits can be done individually or in groups, they are self-guided or guided with the Tourist and Convention Office.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit On the roads of the Loiret within which this monument is situated.
