Château de Tancarville, Medieval castle on cliffs above Seine River, Normandy, France
Château de Tancarville is a castle ruin perched on a limestone cliff in Normandy, towering about 90 meters above the Seine River. The remains display thick stone walls and multiple towers that once formed its defensive structure.
The fortress was founded in the 11th century by Raoul de Tancarville, a chamberlain to the Duke of Normandy. During the Hundred Years' War, it passed between French and English control multiple times as military strategies shifted.
The castle represented Norman power in the region and shaped how local people saw their landscape and rulers. Today, the structure still stands as a visible reminder of that historical authority, even though visitors cannot enter it.
The ruins are currently closed to public entry and undergoing restoration work. Visitors can view the structure from nearby riverside paths and nearby viewpoints that offer good perspectives of the castle and its setting.
A square tower added in the 12th century has walls about 1.65 meters (5.4 feet) thick, displaying military engineering that was advanced for its era. This construction technique shows the sophisticated understanding builders had of defensive structures.
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