The chapel contains the remains of King Louis-Philippe I, the last king of the French.
The stained glass windows were executed by the Sèvres Royal Manufactory based on designs by renowned painters like Ingres and Delacroix.
The crypt houses over 75 members of the Orléans family.
The structure was built to replace an older chapel destroyed by revolutionaries who used the site as a quarry.
The building was designed primarily by the architect Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine.
The Chapelle Royale Saint-Louis in Dreux serves as the primary necropolis for the House of Orléans. Constructed on the site of the former castle of the Counts of Dreux, it replaced a structure destroyed during the French Revolution. King Louis-Philippe I commissioned the current chapel, which blends Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic architectural styles. The interior houses significant white marble funerary monuments commissioned by Queen Marie-Amélie for her family members. It features an extensive collection of 19th-century stained glass windows designed by the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. The site remains a private property belonging to the Orléans family foundation. It is situated within the grounds of the former Château de Dreux, overlooking the Blaise River valley. The site includes the chapel itself, the surrounding park, and the remains of the medieval castle fortifications.
The main entrance facade from the courtyard, capturing the Neo-Gothic architecture against the sky.
Walk the perimeter of the park to see the preserved medieval fortifications of the original castle.
Check the official website for closure notices, as the site occasionally closes for private family events.
Prioritize viewing the stained glass windows from the choir area for the best lighting conditions.
Avoid arriving without checking the website, as the site hosts private events that can result in unscheduled closures.
Closed on Tuesdays. Often closed during the month of January for maintenance and may close for private family ceremonies.
Respectful behavior is expected as it is a place of burial; maintain silence in the crypt.
