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Origin and history

The Château de Valognes, located in the current city centre under the Place du Château, finds its origins in the 11th century as a Norman Ducal mansion. This first building, typical of Carolingian architecture, included a large hall (aula), a chapel and private apartments. He served as a residence for the Dukes of Normandy, including William the Conqueror, who found refuge there between 1035 and 1040 to escape revolted barons. In 1050, Duke Guillaume stayed there before sending his lieutenant to hunt the pirates of Guernsey. The site remains a place of power until the 12th century, marked by royal stays like that of John without Earth in 1203 with Isabelle d'Angoulême.

In the 14th century, the mansion was transformed into a castle by Charles the Bad, king of Navarre, who enlarged and strengthened it after taking possession of it in 1355 via the Treaty of Valognes. The site became a strategic issue during the Hundred Years' War: Bertrand du Guesclin l ́assiège in 1364, and the place passed alternately into French, Navarre and English hands. In 1418, the English occupied the castle until the Battle of Formigny (1450), when he returned to French control. After the war, it was modernized and donated to Jeanne de Valois in 1466.

In modern times, the castle remains a symbol of local power, sheltering governors like Hurtebye in the 16th century. During the Wars of Religion (1562-1598), he resisted several Protestant seats, including those led by Henri-Robert at the Epiles (1562) and Gabriel de Montgomery (1574). In 1595, a demolition order was issued, but the castle was partially repaired in 1620 by Henri-Robert Gigault de Bellefonds. During the Fronde (1649), he was besieged by François Goyon de Matignon, then taken over by the royal troops. Finally, in 1688, Louvois ordered its final dismantling on instructions from Louis XIV. The ruins were razed in 1771 to create a public square.

Archaeological excavations conducted since 2011 have revealed significant remains, such as collapsed walls in ditches, openings (doors, windows) and shooting slits. In 2011, a semi-entered building dated from the Romanesque period, probably medieval aula, was identified. In 2019, the main access to the castle, consisting of two enfilade doors, was cleared, suggesting the existence of a drawbridge and a gateway to the city. Today, no visible vestige remains, except for a plan raised in 1688 ("Plan of Gerville") and archaeological traces.

The castle of Valognes illustrates the political and military transformations of Normandy, moving from a ducal residence to a disputed fortress, then to a symbol of royal authority before its destruction. Its history reflects the conflicts between Normans, English and French, as well as architectural evolutions from the 11th to the 17th centuries. The turret, the last vestige registered with historical monuments in 1937, was destroyed in 1944, permanently erasing the physical traces of this heritage.

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