Château-Gaillard, Richard the Lionheart’s fortress
Further down the Seine, in Les Andelys, the ruins of Château-Gaillard overlook a bend in the river. This is where the fate of Normandy was decided.
A fortress built in record time
Richard the Lionheart, King of England and Duke of Normandy, had Château-Gaillard built in 1198 to bar the Seine upstream from Rouen and protect his duchy. The work was done in record time. Proud of the result, he is said to have exclaimed: “How beautiful she is, my one-year-old daughter!”
1204: Normandy becomes French
Richard died in 1199, and the fortress passed to his brother, John Lackland. In 1204, King Philip Augustus of France took it, bringing Normandy into the Kingdom of France.
The site today
Set on a rocky spur, the ruins overlook a bend in the Seine and the town of Les Andelys. From the castle, the view spans the whole valley.
- Season: in 2026, from March 28 to November 1, Wednesday through Sunday. The keep and inner courtyard close in winter; the outer bailey stays open all year.
- Access: the paths are uneven. The site is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller.
- Current hours: Nouvelle Normandie tourist office.
From the estate
Les Andelys lies further down the Seine than Giverny. The estate, a 4-minute drive from Giverny, makes it easy to combine Monet’s gardens, La Roche-Guyon and Château-Gaillard in one weekend.
Frequently asked questions
- Who built Château-Gaillard?
- Richard the Lionheart, in 1198, to bar the Seine upstream from Rouen and protect the Duchy of Normandy. King Philip Augustus of France took it in 1204.
- Can you visit Château-Gaillard all year round?
- The keep and inner courtyard are open from late March to November 1 (in 2026, Wednesday through Sunday). The outer bailey stays open all year.