Château des Ducs, Medieval castle and courthouse in Argentan, France
Description
Château des Ducs is a medieval castle in Argentan's town center with multiple building sections, a chapel, and fortified structures arranged around courtyards. The buildings connect through a covered gallery and display several layers of defensive walls and a central keep.
History
The castle was built around 1200 and heavily rebuilt in 1370 by Pierre II of Alençon after suffering damage during the Hundred Years' War. This reconstruction made it one of Normandy's strongest fortresses.
Culture
The name refers to the Dukes of Alençon who used this place as their seat of power. Walking through today, you can see how the different buildings work together to form this grand ducal complex.
Practical
The castle sits in Argentan's center on Boulevard du Général de Gaulle and is easy to reach on foot. Today it serves as a courthouse, so visitor access may be limited to certain areas.
Did you know?
The castle holds four separate defensive lines that form an exceptionally complex fortification system. This layered approach to defense reveals the military sophistication of its medieval builders.
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