A drive through north-west France

[RooFlyer]

Then onto Caen chateau/castle. This wikipedia article gives a good summary.

The castle was built c. 1060 by William the Conqueror (William of Normandy), who successfully conquered England in 1066. His son Henry I then built the Saint George's church, a keep (1123) and a large hall for the ducal Court.

On Christmas 1182, a royal court celebration for Christmas in the Aula of Caen Castle brought together Henry II and his sons, the future kings of England Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, receiving more than a thousand knights.

Caen Castle, along with all of Normandy, was recaptured by the French Crown in 1204. Philip II reinforced the fortifications.

The castle saw several engagements during the Hundred Years' War (1346, 1417, 1450). The keep was pulled down in 1793 during the French Revolution, by order of the National Convention.

The castle, which was used as a barracks during World War II, was bombed in 1944 and seriously damaged.

Is now mostly parklands surrounded by the outer wall and moat, with a few surviving buildings within. Free access 24/7 ut ticket office and particular monuments open at 10:00 IITC

View of the cathedral for the chateau. You can see who's boss.



A view from inside



Another view, to ST George's chapel













Plus it was bombed to a shell in WW2



From the ramparts you can see the area of the keep (tower), surrounded by its own moat destroyed by the revolutionaries.







Also from the ramparts, foundations for what are thought to be William the Conqueror's apartments.





Castle gate from the inside





and outside