Vale Castle, Medieval fortress in Vale, Guernsey

Vale Castle is a fortress featuring six round towers connected by granite curtain walls with a square gatehouse at its entrance. The structure rises on a hilltop, positioned to command views across the surrounding landscape.

The fortress began construction in the late 10th century as protection against pirates and was originally named by Benedictine monks. It faced military assault in the early 14th century and changed hands before returning to local control.

The castle's name shifted from Le Château St Michel to Château de Val or Château de Valle, after the parish of Vale where it stands. A 12th-century leper hospice was founded beside it for crusaders who returned from Palestine with the disease. Today the site hosts music festivals and private parties, and graves of Russian soldiers who died in 1799 lie within its grounds.

Access to the site is free throughout the year except during scheduled private events and music festivals. It is wise to check ahead about current events to ensure the castle is open for public visits.

The 1980 excavations found a small turf bank beneath the medieval outer bank, holding pottery from 500–600 BC; matching sherds came from a second bank under the 14th-century military buildings inside the walls. This double-bank hillfort is the only one recorded in Guernsey.