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Photo: Urban, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This fortress was dreamed of, skillfully designed and built by the fiery Richard I of England, feudal Duke of Normandy, better known as Richard the Lionheart. Like its creator, the stronghold of Les Andelys calls to mind strength, power, invincibility. Yet, the virtually impregnable fortress would live only a few years, just like Richard, who was too confident in his talents as a warrior.
Château Gaillard is a medieval castle ruin overlooking the River Seine above the commune of Les Andelys, in the French department of Eure, in Normandy. It is located some 95 kilometres (59 mi) north-west of Paris and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Rouen. Construction began in 1196 under the auspices of Richard the Lionheart, who was simultaneously King of England and feudal Duke of Normandy. The castle was expensive to build, but the majority of the work was done in an unusually short period of time. It took just two years and, at the same time, the town of Petit Andely was constructed. Château Gaillard has a complex and advanced design, and uses early principles of concentric fortification; it was also one of the earliest European castles to use machicolations. The castle consists of three enclosures separated by dry moats, with a keep in the inner enclosure.
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Building Chateau-Gaillard required the presence of over three thousands workers in les Andelys. The Saint-Sauveur church was built for them. Works started in 1198 and were finished four years later, in 1202, that is why the church has an outstanding unity.
This is the very place where the Queen Clotilde, wife of Clovis, founded the first Norman abbey in 511. The construction of the present church started in the 13th century and spread over a period of 500 years.
Beautiful white Renaissance château, that is nowadays distinctly battered-looking, of which the gatehouse is the most impressive retained element.