Castle of Verneuil-sur-Avre

The Grey Tower stands 35 meters tall with 4-meter-thick walls, constructed from ferruginous conglomerate at the southern edge of the town near Avre River.

Henri I Beauclerc built the fortress around 1120, making Verneuil one of the strongest defensive positions in the Duchy of Normandy along its southern border.

The castle served as the final defensive position for the town, featuring two gates - one facing the city and another towards the ramparts.

The monument maintains its surrounding moat and several flanking towers, including the Saint-Andre Tower, which remain visible to visitors today.

Philip Augustus constructed the Grey Tower after annexing Normandy to monitor the town while granting municipal freedoms to its inhabitants.

Location: Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton

GPS coordinates: 48.73556,0.93056

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:54