Ensemble castral

English translation

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History

The castle played an important role in the struggles between Henry II of England and Philip Augustus. Henry II had a powerful fortress built between 1160 and 1185 (of which the keep, of slightly conical form, and its shell remain). The castle was united with the royal domain in the early 13th century. In 1272 a lodging was built (date obtained by dendrochronology of the roof structure). Philip III continued the works which were completed around 1289. A two-storey chapel is attached to the lodging; its roof structure was replaced in the 14th or 15th century. Against the north curtain leans a building used as a prison from 1595 until the 19th century; its roof structure was put in place between 1379 and 1384. The castle was abandoned by royalty from the early 16th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the great hall of the lodging housed the court of justice. It was converted into a reception hall by A. Laprade in 1933. Note the presence of mural paintings from the end of the 13th century in the five upper rooms of the lodging (friezes with geometric decoration, coats of arms framed with plant motifs, etc.). The motte and the lodging were given by Charles the Bald to one of his faithful named Haimon. In 1170, the castle passed into the hands of the count of Anjou and king of England Henry II and played an important role in the struggles between this king and Philip Augustus. Henry II had a powerful fortress built, in the third quarter of the 12th century (in the years 1160-1185). From this fortress remain the slightly conical keep and its shell of polygonal plan, implanted on a motte. Three curtains enclosed the court of the castle: one to the north, flanked by square towers, irregularly spaced (two of which still exist), another to the east, destroyed in the 13th century, during the construction of the lodging, and the third to the south, destroyed in the early 19th century. The enclosure of the bailey was subsequently completed by several round towers. United with the royal domain, the castle was entrusted to Dreux de Mello, from 1206 to 1249. In September 1274, it was handed over to Pierre de la Brosse, chamberlain and favourite of Philip the Bold. When the new owner was hanged at Montfaucon in 1278, Châtillon reverted to the king; important works had been executed, including the construction, to the north of the complex, of a lodging, since around 1272 (roof structure of the northern part). Philip III continued the works which were completed around 1289 (sloping roof structure leaning against the south gable). A palatine chapel with two storeys, dedicated to Notre-Dame, is attached to the lodging. In plan, it is constituted by a rectangle terminated by a chevet with five sides, facing south. It did not yet exist in 1226; it is cited for the first time in 1280. Its roof structure was replaced in the 14th or 15th century. Against the north curtain leans a building used as a prison from 1595 to the 19th century. Its roof structure, with common rafters carrying trusses in broken barrel vault, corresponding to a sloping roof, was put in place between 1379 and 1384. Abandoned by royalty from the early 16th century, Châtillon was then frequently pledged, until its definitive alienation by exchange in 1745. The great hall of the lodging hosted in the 17th and 18th centuries the court of justice. The construction of a fortified gate, framed by two circular towers, was undertaken on the order of the baron of Sennevières, captain of the castle and town in 1610. It was never completed.