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Origin and history

The Château de Lillebonne, located in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, is a former castle whose origins date back to the 11th century. It was reconstructed in the 12th century and profoundly redesigned in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Originally, the site housed the Gallo-Roman city of Juliobona, before becoming a privileged place for the Dukes of Normandy, notably William the Conqueror, who organized councils there, including the one preparing for the conquest of England. The first castle was built by Guillaume, while Henry I Beauclerc added a large Romanesque hall, comparable to that of Caen Castle.

At the beginning of the 13th century, after its attachment to the royal estate under Philippe Auguste, the castle was strengthened by an imposing cylindrical dungeon surrounded by a ditch and a shirt. The fortress then passed into the hands of the Harcourt family, who made changes, including an artillery platform in the 15th century after the Hundred Years' War. The decline began in the 18th century: lead from the dungeon terrace was sold in 1760, causing the collapse of its vault, and the stones were reused as a quarry. Today only the dungeon, an octagonal tower of the 13th century, and remains of the enclosure remain.

Among the remarkable elements, the dungeon, classified in 1862, is distinguished by its three arched levels, formerly accessible by drawbridges. The octagonal tower, attributed to John II of Harcourt, and the tower of the Chartrier, transformed in the 19th century, complete the ruins. The Romanesque house, probably dating from Henry II, was destroyed in 1832, replaced by a master house built around 1870 in the enclosure. These remains, partially classified in 1990, recall the strategic and symbolic importance of the site, marked by the Dukes of Normandy, the kings of France and the local lords.

The castle illustrates medieval architectural evolutions, from the primitive castral mott to late defensive adaptations. Its gradual abandonment and the destructions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries contrast with its central role during the Middle Ages, where it served as a ducal residence, royal fortress and symbol of power. Recent excavations and protections highlight its archaeological and historical interest, despite the transformations experienced over the centuries.

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