Château de Pirou, Medieval castle in Pirou, France
Château de Pirou is a medieval castle surrounded by three concentric moats and protected by five fortified gates. Stone structures replaced the original wooden fortifications that once stood here in the 12th century.
The castle was built to monitor the English Channel coast and protect the city of Coutances and its harbor from medieval invasions. Over the centuries, the structure evolved as Normans shaped and reshaped the region.
The castle houses a locally crafted tapestry that tells the story of Viking raids in Cotentin and the Norman expansion into southern Italy. The tapestries on display reflect how this corner of Normandy was connected to the broader medieval world.
The site is relatively open and easy to walk around, with paths leading across the moats and toward the various gates. It is best to wear comfortable shoes, as the ground can be uneven and the tour unfolds mostly in the open air.
A local legend tells of a mysterious curse where the lord of Pirou and his family transformed into geese to escape Viking raids. The story claims they never regained their human form, remaining as geese bound to the castle grounds.
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