Jeu de paume
MonumentHidden Treasure
Jeu de paume, located in Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.1662, 0.2421
- Mérimée Reference
- PA37000037
A rare vestige of the 16th century, the former jeu de paume in Chinon is one of the oldest halls for this royal sport still standing in France, an unexpected testament to a passion that is almost forgotten today.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
In the heart of Chinon, a town steeped in history and nestling in the Vienne valley, stands a building that few passers-by are able to identify: the former jeu de paume. Behind its sober façade lies one of the rarest architectural witnesses to Renaissance France, at a time when this sport - the direct ancestor of tennis - reigned supreme in the royal courts and provincial towns. What makes this building truly singular is its persistence. While the vast majority of French jeu de paume halls have been transformed into theatres, stables or simply razed to the ground over the centuries, the one in Chinon has survived, altered but recognisable in its broad outlines. Its framework, which has been dendrochronologically dated to around 1587, is a key part of Touraine's sporting and architectural heritage. A visit to the old jeu de paume takes you back to a bygone era: a time when thousands of rooms echoed with the sound of balls struck by hand and then by racket, when nobles and middle-class citizens came together to play and bet, and when kings themselves did not hesitate to pick up a racket. The interior space, with its characteristic length and ancient framework, still powerfully evokes the practice of the game in its original form. The setting of Chinon, a medieval and Renaissance town par excellence, adds an extra dimension to the visit. Just a stone's throw from the royal castle where Joan of Arc met the Dauphin Charles, the old jeu de paume is part of a remarkably coherent historical urban fabric. The restoration project led by the Comité français de courte paume aims to breathe new life into this exceptional building, making Chinon a living centre for the rediscovery of jeu de paume.
Architecture
The old jeu de paume in Chinon was built to the standard architectural design of long halls, which became the norm for indoor jeu de paume from the 16th century onwards. The elongated rectangular plan - an essential feature of the game - defines an imposing interior volume, designed to allow players to exchange games over long distances. The length of the room, in keeping with the canons of the time, must have been in the region of thirty to thirty-five metres, the usual dimensions for provincial gambling dens of the Renaissance. The most remarkable and best-preserved feature of the building is its wooden framework, dated 1587, which is the main heritage argument justifying its protection as a Historic Monument. This oak timber frame, typical of Touraine construction in the late 16th century, features a structure with regularly spaced trusses, covering the entire nave without interruption - a necessary condition for play. The walls, probably made of tuffeau, a soft, blonde local stone typical of the Loire Valley, were originally designed to include features specific to the game: side galleries, protective nets and strictly regulated openings. Although the structural alterations that have accumulated over the centuries have altered the interior elevations and some of the openings, the overall volume of the building remains legible. The sober facade, devoid of ostentatious ornamentation, reflects the functional nature of the building, which was intended primarily for sporting activities rather than social representation - something that distinguishes gambling dens from the great prestige buildings of the same period.
Related Figures
Henri III, roi de France (1551-1589) — monarque régnant lors de la construction de la salle, fervent amateur de jeu de paumeHenri IV (1553-1610) — roi passionné de jeu de paume, dont le règne coïncide avec l'apogée du sport en FranceLe Comité français de courte paume — institution acquéreuse et porteur du projet de restauration contemporainCharles VII (1403-1461) — roi lié à Chinon, ville où il reçut Jeanne d'Arc, illustrant le prestige royal de la cité
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jeu de paume located?
Jeu de paume is located in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Jeu de paume built?
Jeu de paume dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Jeu de paume open to visitors?
Jeu de paume is currently closed to visitors.