Long ago, Dreux was the capital of Gallic tribes, and later, in the Middle Ages, its chateau was one of the most powerful in all of France, rivaling even the Dukes of Normandy. As a result of this rich and illustrious history, a number of remarkable monuments still exist in Dreux today.

Located in the northwestern part of the country, Dreux lies in the Centre region along the Blaise river northwest of Chartres. The town’s monuments include Le Belffroi, or old town hall, which dates to 1537 and is a symbol of freedom for the parish. In the loft here is the huge old town bell, Le Bourdon, which is embellished with a frieze of the ancient “Procession des Flambarts,” which is commemorated each December in the town’s Carnival des Flambarts. Also of note, the Gothic church of Sainte Pierre was built between the 13th and 17th centuries, while the Chapel of Saint Louis is a 19th century mausoleum for the princes of France’s Orleans family.