Château d'Étampes

Étampes, France

The Château d'Étampes was a castle in the town of Étampes. The principal remains are of the 12th-century keep, the Tour de Guinette.

The Château d'Étampes was an early 10th-century stronghold of Robert the Pious, King of France, that comprised both a palace proper and motte. Between 1130 and 1150, a new castle was created overlooking the valley, culminating in a strong keep or donjon: the present Tour de Guinette. The Château was extended under later kings, notably Philip II of France, but suffered through sieges in the Hundred Years War before having been ordered destroyed by Henry IV of France, after which only the keep remained.

The architectural aspects of this former royal castle are known from contemporary images, including the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry. Tour de Guinette was in the center of the castle and was surrounded by a rectangular curtain wall punctuated by corner towers. This wall was, in turn, enclosed by two additional walls providing layers of defense for the keep.

The surviving keep stands roughly 27 meters tall and is a quatrefoil plan (much like a four-leaf clover). Divided into four stories, first-floor access may originally have been reached from the enclosure wall. This interesting plan is the result of tactical experimentation that the keep underwent during the mid-12th century to improve the defense of towers against missiles and to reduce dead ground. The circular lobes deflect missiles, and allow defenders to cover the foot of the walls from the summit of the keep. The plan resembles the keeps of Ambleny and nearby Houdan. Clifford's Tower, part of York Castle in York, England, is believed to have been inspired by Étampes.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1130-1150
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.1/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Christine L (20 months ago)
Mrs. Tirode is a lovely adviser. She takes the time to describe the products she offers us. She is particularly attentive to us and very competent. She is a valuable interlocutor.
Christian Lacote (20 months ago)
Madame TIRODE is an excellent adviser, very caring, who knows her products perfectly and who does not hesitate to take the time to explain to us and even to explain to us again how each product works. She is very professional and very efficient. Thank you
Guy Damour (2 years ago)
After thirty years in this bank, we decided to look elsewhere, they are completely laughing at us. 8 months after the death of my wife, the notary made the necessary arrangements with the banks. 3 months later, the other banks returned the funds to me at the general company, still not yet ... the funds still blocked despite but repeated emails. ashamed, inadmissible, incomprehensible .... a FUIRRRRRR
t d (2 years ago)
I am very satisfied with Société Générale in Etampes and their working crew. Madame Jessica Massembo
Noorzai Sardar (2 years ago)
Good
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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.