Château de Gisors

The Château de Gisors is a castle in the town of Gisors in the départment of Eure, France. The castle was a key fortress of the Dukes of Normandy in the 11th and 12th centuries. It was intended to defend the Anglo-Norman Vexin territory from the pretensions of the King of France.

History

King William II of England ordered Robert of Bellême to build the first castle at Gisors.Henry I of England built the octagonal stone keep surmounting the motte; his work at Gisors was part of a programme of royal castle building in Normandy during his reign to secure the region against the aspirations of the French crown. It saw the construction of more than 25 castles.

In 1193, while King Richard I of England (also Duke of Normandy) was imprisoned in Germany, the castle fell into the hands of King Philip II of France. After Richard's death in 1199, Philip conquered much of the rest of Normandy and Gisors thereafter lost a good part of its importance as a frontier castle.

The castle is also known for its links with the Templars. Put into their charge by the French king between 1158 and 1160, it became the final prison of the Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, in 1314.

Gisors

Gisors is a commune of Upper Normandy, France. It is located 62.9 km (39.1 mi) northwest from the centre of Paris.

Gisors, together with the neighbouring communes of Trie-Château and Trie-la-Ville, form an urban area of 12,669 inhabitants (1999 census). This urban area is a satellite town of Paris.

Geography

Gisors is located in the Vexin normand region of Normandy at the confluence of the Epte, Troesne and Réveillon rivers .

Population

Transport

The Gisors-Embranchement station is the terminus of a Transilien suburban rail service from the Paris Saint-Lazare station.

Sights

Motte and Castle

Motte and Castle

Castle of Gisors

Castle of Gisors

The so-called Grosse Tour ("Big Tower") of the St-Gervais-St-Protais church was built between 1542 and 1590.

The so-called Grosse Tour ("Big Tower") of the St-Gervais-St-Protais church was built between 1542 and 1590.