Château de la Source, Administrative estate in Orléans, France
Château de la Source is a manor house situated beside the Loiret River, near the water source called Le Bouillon that inspired its name. The building stands close to the Floral Park and currently serves as administrative offices for the University of Orléans.
The château was designed in 1633 by Charles Turmel and represents 17th-century architecture. Between 1710 and 1723, the English nobleman Henry St John, First Viscount Bolingbroke, rented the property and made it his residence during those years.
The castle's name references the nearby spring that feeds the Loiret River, a feature that shaped the property's identity from the start. This connection to the water source remains part of how visitors understand the site today.
The building serves as the University of Orléans administrative center, so visitors can appreciate the exterior and riverside setting from the public areas. It is easily reached by tram line A, which runs through Orléans.
The site held military importance after a major European conflict, when Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout used it to coordinate the withdrawal of troops. This demonstrates that the château served purposes beyond its original role as a private residence.
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