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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The prehistoric enclosure of Château-Robert is an archaeological site located on the right bank of the Eure, overlooking the town of Acquigny in the department of Eure. This monument, classified as historical monuments on 8 June 1945, is in the form of a barred spur, a type of fortification typical of Prehistory. It occupies the end of a natural spur formed by the valley of the Eure and the valley of Gruchet, close to 100 meters above the valley. The site is now entirely wooded and located on a private property.

The first scientific description of the site dates back to 1911, made by Léon Coutil. Despite this early mention, the enclosure remains under study, and its precise dating still raises questions. Experts generally believe that it goes back to the Bronze Age or Iron Age, like other similar fora in Normandy, such as the one in Brionne (the Vigneron camp). The absence of representative archaeological remains makes dating more precise.

The site consists of a large arched earth rampart, about 100 metres long, equipped with a door. This slope, 15 meters high, is preceded by a deep ditch of 4 to 6 meters, partially filled with sediment. Within the main enclosure, other earth lifts or piles of dry stones define smaller spaces. Below, on a flat side of the slope, are the abrased remains of a medieval manor house, the manor house of Cambremont, attesting to a subsequent occupation of the place. The Napoleonic cadastre (1813-1859) explicitly mentions a "sense of Robert Castle" on Parcel 189, confirming the topographical durability of the name.

Abbé Lebeurier proposed a site status drawing, contributing to the site's historical documentation. Despite its classification in 1945, the enclosure of the Château-Robert remains unknown to the general public, due to its limited accessibility (private property) and the absence of extensive archaeological studies. His interest, however, lies in his illustration of prehistoric fortification techniques and the ancient occupation of the Norman valleys.

In Normandy, this type of enclosure in height is relatively common, although poorly dated. Comparisons with neighbouring sites, such as Brionne's, suggest a defensive or symbolic function, linked to the control of river or terrestrial channels of communication. The Eure Valley, the natural axis of traffic, could have justified the establishment of such entrenchments, although their exact use (refugee, place of power, or simple territorial marker) remains debated in the absence of exhaustive excavations.

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