Chalon sur Saône : Orbandale Way

Sculpted in 1885 by Eugène Guillaume who, in honour of the inventor of photography, made no charge for his work on
this statue.

Built between 1675 and 1710, this was a staging post for coaches and wagons, where horses were changed and merchandise stored.

Formerly an office of the « Messageries Royales » (the first postal service), the museum now explains the evolution of photography from its invention to the digital age.

Built in 1773 facing the river Saône, it now houses the Heritage Centre which relates the 2000 years of Chalon’s history.

A watch tower which in the middle ages formed part of the fortifications on the banks of the Saône. It gets its name from a money lender who lived in the tower around 1800, and whose portrait can be seen in the Denon Museum.

Originally built by the Romans around 30 BC, it has since been rebuilt twice. In the 14th century it became crowded with houses and mills, which were all removed and replaced with obelisks in the 18th century. The bridge was destroyed by the Germans in 1944 and then completely rebuilt shortly afterwards in concrete faced with stone.

The creation of a hospital on the Ile St-Laurent goes back to the beginning of the 16th century. The original nuns’ quarters, recognisable from the angled gable, date from that period. The main hospital buildings were built during
the 19th century and replaced the original main hospital ward which was demolished in 1854. The dome, built in the 1770’s, was completely remodelled during the hospital modernisation programme (1854 to 1870).

Originally, it housed the staircase to the lodgings of the eldest of the canons of the Cathedral (in the current courtyard) Rue Edgar Quinet. In 1907 it was sold, taken down and sent for auction in Paris. A rich American patron of the arts, Frank Jay-Gould, bought it and gave it back to the commune which, in 1927 installed it on the Ile St-Laurent.

In 1450 the Cordeliers (Franciscan friars) from Dole formed a monastery on the island at the request of Philippe le Bon, Duke of Burgundy. Their establishment was entirely rebuilt between 1663 and 1693. In 1844 military engineers demolished the church to enlarge the barracks. Before 1914, these could house 4 companies each of 115
men; today the barracks are home to the 43rd Company of the CRS.

with its eclectic style, was built in 1873 on the site of a former hospital ward. Although taking inspiration from a variety of different periods, it was constructed using modern materials, including metal used for the roof supports.

Dating from 1459, the bridge over La Genise, a natural arm of the Saône, was repaired in 1682 before collapsing in 1696. Rebuilt in 1699 with solid piers, domed deck and basket handle arches, it was enlarged in 1857 and strengthened in 1942.

The Quai de la Monnaie gets its name from during the Middle Ages when the Dukes of Burgundy minted money
here during the Middle Ages. The pumps enabled clean water to be pumped up from the water table under the bed of the Saône, and were installed circa 1871, thanks to the generosity of the Thévenin family.

9-11 rue Saint-Vincent Dating from late 15th to early 16th centuries, the main body of the house was constructed of two parts, one in stone and the other half-timbered, linked by a tower enclosing a spiral staircase to the upper
floors (visible from the street).

7 rue Saint-Vincent Built circa 1500 this house owes its name to its half timbered facade rising to high roofs which
are pierced with three levels of skylights. It belonged to the Riboudeau family, wealthy Chalon merchants.

This stone tower house built in the 13th century would have belonged to one of the notable Lombardy Jewish families, known for their role as money lenders during the great fairs of the Middle Ages. The church forbade this activity for Christians.

Built in the Roman and Gothic styles from 1080 to the 16th century. The facade which was destroyed during the Revolution was rebuilt from 1827 in the Neo-gothic style.

All that remains of the original 1776 theatre is the facade, where the taste for the antique style is visible in its sobriety and in the choice of ionic columns and capitals. The rest of the Italian-style theatre was completely rebuilt in 1886.

40 rue Saint Georges This mid-19th century folly, mixing eastern fantasy and the Middle Ages, was built on a part of the former 13th century monastery of the charitable order of Saint Antoine.

38 rue Saint Georges Situated between a courtyard and a garden, the mansion belonged to the Du Ble d’Uxelles family, whose members had been governors of the Royal Citadel of Chalon during the 17th and 18th centuries.

This former mansion of Enoch de Virey, mayor of Chalon, built in 1612 using brick and stone is attributed to the Lorraine architect Gentillâtre. It was doubled in size, imitating the existing building, during the installation of the
Sous Prefecture during the 19th century.

At the end on the left of the Impasse Villa Denon. House of the parents of Dominique Vivant Denon, artist, diplomat and French administrator, who was the 1st director of the Musée du Louvre in Paris.

The tower, remains of the gallo-roman wall, formed part of the fortified house of Sieur Saudon, liegeman of the Count of Chalon, around 1000. In the 17th century it was integrated into the chapel of the Oratoriens convent.

15 rue de l’Oratoire Nicéphore Niépce was the inventor of the photographic process.

In 1407 the city aldermen acquired a house for use as a town hall. The staircase tower raised in 1429 housed the bells that proclaim the power of the municipal institution. The belfry is all that remains today.

8 rue des Tonneliers This mansion was built around 1710 for a former mayor of Chalon in a quarter that was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries amongst the court nobles.

5 rue des Tonneliers This huge rectangular mansion, in the antique style arranged around a courtyard, was built in
1770 for Madame Chiquet. In 1805 Napoleon 1st and then Pope Pius 7th stayed there.

37 rue du Châtelet Built in 1657 for Barthelemy Magnien, a parliamentary advocate. The Roman style bas reliefs in
plaster show four faces in profile and carrying flowers, a sheaf of corn, fruit and a bundle of firewood representing the
four seasons.

3 rue au Change In 1614 the lawyer Louis Perry, alderman and later mayor of Chalon, commissioned the architect
Gentillâtre to build this classical and richly decorated house.

Opened in 1844, it is built on the remains of the 15th century Carmelite convent which became the tribunal (1822). The neoclassical facade is the work of the architect Eugene Piot.

Originally built over part of the Ursulines convent, the building was updated in the neo-classical style in 1820-1822 in order to house a free art school. The museum, inaugurated in 1866, contains collections of fine art and of archaeology.

The St Pierre church and convent were erected at the end of the 17th beginning f the 18th centuries by Benedictine
monks. Made the parish church in 1802, the acade was restored in 1900.

This 13th century chapel is the only remaining part of the site occupied by the Knights Templar which in the 14th century passed to the Knights of Malta, and now houses the Combatant Memorial Museum

10 quai Gambetta A convent for the Benedictines who came from Lancharre. From 1626 onwards it covered a very
large area.

4 rue de Lyon The choir in the flat apse of the 15th century Carmelite chapel, is the only substantial element
remaining of this edifice, which was split into sections and sold during the Revolution. It now houses part of the town
library.