Ancien pavillon de chasse
MonumentHidden Treasure
An octagonal jewel nestling in the heart of the Dreux forest, this hunting lodge belonging to the Comte d'Eu (1756) stands at the junction of eight forest roads like a signal of classical elegance planted in the woods.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
One of the best-preserved hunting lodges in the Eure-et-Loir region has stood at the crossroads of eight forest avenues since 1756. The brainchild of the Comte d'Eu, lord of the Dreux forest and master of the Château d'Anet, this octagonal building epitomises the way in which eighteenth-century nobility sublimated their hunting hobbies into prestigious architecture. The first thing that strikes you is the geometric sobriety of the whole: eight equal sections crowned by a lead terraced roof, surrounded by a stone balustrade that cuts through the forest sky. The building rests on a slight circular slope - a clever design that raises it slightly above the surrounding canopy and gives it an almost theatrical presence, underlined by four cross-shaped steps. The interior is a pleasant surprise: the ground floor opens onto a single, vast and luminous room, where a corner fireplace and an enclosed spiral staircase coexist with an economy of means characteristic of the classical provincial style. Upstairs, four small polygonal bedrooms are a reminder that the pavilion was indeed a living space - discreet and functional, designed to accommodate the master and his guests between two outings in the coppice. The forest itself is part of the monument: from the bridle paths that converge on it, the building is revealed in perspective, like an architectural vanishing point in a landscape drawn to the chalk line. Photographers and lovers of the forest heritage will find it a perfect subject for any season, especially in autumn when the foliage of the Dreux forest lights up the setting.
Architecture
The Pavillon d'Abondant is an octagonal building with a regular plan, typical of hunting lodges of the classical era, which favoured radiating symmetry for buildings located at the heart of star-shaped forest crossroads. Raised on a circular embankment and accessible via four steps arranged at the points of the compass, it demonstrates a desire for monumental staging despite its relatively modest dimensions. The lead terrasson roof - a specific form of low-pitched flat roof encircled by a carved stone balustrade - bears witness to an architectural vocabulary borrowed from French classical architecture of the mid-eighteenth century, with its combination of Mansard influence and provincial sobriety. The ground floor houses a single room with an octagonal floor plan, one corner of which is occupied by a fireplace, an essential comfort feature for hunting days in the cold season. The enclosed spiral staircase, located opposite the fireplace, leads to the first floor and provides access to the terrace, probably offering a view of the surrounding forest paths. Upstairs, the space is subdivided into four small polygonal rooms, a clever solution for accommodating guests while respecting the geometric constraints of the octagonal floor plan. The materials used - local ashlar, classical joinery and lead roofing - reflect the standards of provincial noble construction under Louis XV.
Related Figures
Louis-Charles de Bourbon, comte d'Eu (1701-1775) — commanditaire du pavillon en 1756, prince du sang et seigneur de la forêt de DreuxDiane de Poitiers (1499-1566) — ancienne maîtresse des lieux via le château d'Anet, dont le domaine englobait les forêts environnantesPhilibert de l'Orme (v.1514-1570) — architecte du château d'Anet, dont l'influence rayonnait sur l'ensemble du domaine forestierLouis XIV (1638-1715) — sous son règne, la forêt de Dreux fut intégrée aux grands domaines royaux qui allaient générer ce type d'équipements de chasseLouis-Philippe Ier (1773-1850) — les Orléans héritèrent du domaine de Dreux au XIXe siècle, assurant une continuité de gestion du massif forestier
