Château des Ducs d'Alençon

Alençon, France

The 15th century Château des Ducs was a massive castle in Alençon. The first castle, built in the 11th century, is completely disappeared today. The next castle was built by Peter II, the count of Alençon between 1361-1404. It was demolished 1592. Today only a impressive gatehouse and part of the walls remain.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Rue de la Chaussée 45-47, Alençon, France

See all sites in Alençon

Details

Founded: 1361-1404
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in France
Historical period: Valois Dynasty and Hundred Year's War (France)

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Justin MacDonald (11 months ago)
This Chateau in Alencon is beautiful with an interesting and extensive history. The main defences and towers remain with a lovely garden area and playground in what was the castle courtyard. The castle itself as at November 2022 is being renovated internally and looks that it will take some time. It would be great to learn more about the role of the chateau over the centuries and its more recent role as a prison used by the gestapo in WW2. It's a pretty part of the town with plenty of parking available, best to park have a wander around the chateau and explore the rest of the town on foot, everything is within close walking distance.

robin Pailthorpe (16 months ago)
Beautiful chateau, well furnished and explained. Recommended

Noel Mahon (2 years ago)
What a lovely place to stay for a few days, we used the Aires municipal €12 per night with all of the facilities. Alencon.

Kyaw TI KAUNG (2 years ago)
So nice.

massicot clife (2 years ago)
Top

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Timeless Treasures of Wales

Gothic Cathedrals of Belgium

Migthy Cathar Castles

Photo from Flickr, copyright joiseyshowaa

Historic Site of the week

Broch of Gurness

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.

The remains of the central tower are up to 3.6 metres high, and the stone walls are up to 4.1 metres thick.