Château Gaillard Castle

Address: Château Gaillard, Les Andelys, 27700, France

Château Gaillard is a ruined medieval castle on a high promontory above the Seine at Les Andelys in Normandy. It was constructed in the late 12th century as a fortified stronghold and overlook point on the river valley.

The site is noted for its defensive layout with inner and outer wards, towers and steep approaches that exploited the natural cliffside position. Large sections of curtain wall and towers remain as ruins that illustrate medieval military architecture.

The castle was built in the late 1100s by King Richard I of England to secure control of the Seine valley, and it was the site of military action during the early 13th century that led to its capture by the French crown. Over subsequent centuries it fell into disuse and ruin, and the surviving remains are now an archaeological and scenic landmark.

Château Gaillard sits above the town of Les Andelys in Normandy, commanding a vantage over a bend in the Seine and the surrounding river valley.

• Founding and position: Constructed by Richard I of England in the late 12th century, the castle occupies a steep promontory overlooking the Seine and the town of Les Andelys.

What to See#

• Inner ward and keep: Inner ward and keep remains that illustrate the castle’s original concentric plan and defensive lines built in the late 12th century.
• Outer defenses and towers: Outer bailey, curtain walls and surviving towers that occupy the rocky promontory and provided layered defenses commanding the river below.
• River-facing position: Site of the bridgehead and approaches down to the Seine, showing how the castle controlled river traffic and the valley route.

• Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid day-trip coach crowds and to get the best light for views of the Seine and the surrounding cliffs.
• Make the short climb to the fortress's upper levels and keep - the main reward is the sweeping panorama over Les Andelys and the river, which many visitors miss if they only wander the lower ruins.
• Pair the castle visit with a stroll through the town of Les Andelys and the riverbanks to appreciate the site's strategic riverside setting rather than seeing the ruin in isolation.