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Origin and history

The castle of Dieppe has its origins in an early fortification built around 1188 by Henry II Plantagenet and Richard Coeur de Lion, destroyed in 1195 by Philippe Auguste. The present structure dates mainly from the 15th century, when Charles des Maretz, after releasing Dieppe from the English in 1435, rebuilt an imposing fortress to resist the assaults. Three round towers and a rectangular courtine, connected by drawbridges, form the heart of the royal castle, which resisted the Bourguignons in 1472. The oldest remains, such as the early tower (14th century), testify to its defensive role in the face of Flemish and English threats.

In the 16th century, the castle evolved to adapt to artillery: a barbacan, a detached tower and reinforcements integrated the enclosure, including the ruins of the Saint-Rémy church (disused in 1522). The Wars of Religion (1560–90) saw the castle change hands between Huguenots, leaguers and royals. In the 17th century, it lost its purely military character to become a residence and barracks, with amenities such as enlarged windows and pepper roofs. The Duchess of Longueville took refuge there in 1650 during the Fronde, before fleeing through a window.

The military decline accelerated after 1694, when the Anglo-Holland fleet bombed Dieppe, damaging the castle. In the 19th century, it was transformed into a barracks and then into a prison during the Revolution. Decommissioned in 1899, it was bought by the city in 1903 and became a museum in 1923, housing collections transferred from the city centre. During the two world wars, he briefly resumed a military role: English base in 1914–18, then German post integrated into the Atlantic Wall in 1940–1944, suffering damage during the explosion of an ammunition depot in 1944.

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