Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Madeleine is a castle built between 1030 and 1090 by Gui I, lord of Chevreuse, to defend the city from looting. Originally, a wooden tower and a palisade protected the site, replaced in the 12th century by stone walls and a dungeon. The current remains include a complete enclosure with square and round towers, a 15th century well, and mâchicoulis added to the 14th century.

In 1356, the castle changed hands when Ingerger the Great, prisoner in England during the Hundred Years War, sold him to pay his ransom. Pierre de Chevreuse buys it and grows. The fortifications were strengthened during the reigns of Charles V, Charles VI and Louis XI (1461-1483), with works financed by royal taxes. The city itself is surrounded by crenelated ramparts and deep ditches.

In the 17th century, Jean Racine oversees modifications of the dungeon, and a path bearing his name links the castle to the abbey of Port-Royal. Partly restored in the 19th century, the castle now houses the house of the regional natural park of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse. Its enclosure, its master tower and its defensive elements (douves, mâchicoulis) testify to its architectural evolution over nearly a thousand years.

The high court, accessible for free, preserves medieval elements such as the 15th century well and windows of the 11th and 15th centuries. The lower yard, divided into private plots, is not open to the public. The site also served as a decor for the Kaamelott series, adding a contemporary cultural touch to its millennial history.

External links