Château de Courcy
Encyclopedia
The Château de Courcy is a ruined castle
in the commune
of Courcy
in the south of the Calvados
département of France. The edifice, typical of 12th-13th century military architecture, is in danger due to the lack of protective measures, even since being added to the monument historique
inventory by the French Ministry of Culture in 1975.
In 1975, the remaining parts of the former castle including the gate on the road from Tôtes and the gateway to the second enceinte
were protected by being added to the supplementary inventory of historical monuments. In spite of this protection, the condition of the site has continued to deteriorate.
The structure of the fortification was conceived as a succession of three enceinte
s (one surrounding the village, another around the lower court and the last constituting the heart of the fortress): only the last remains.
Surrounded by moat
s, the last enceinte was about 10 m high and defended by twelve towers, of which only nine round towers remain, and a square tower which probably served as a keep
.
Elsewhere in the enceinte are the remains of the Saint Catherine chapel, datable to the 12th century but having been greatly remodelled in the 15th-16th centuries.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Courcy
Courcy, Calvados
Courcy is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Sights:* Château de Courcy, 12th/13th century castle....
in the south of the Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
département of France. The edifice, typical of 12th-13th century military architecture, is in danger due to the lack of protective measures, even since being added to the monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
inventory by the French Ministry of Culture in 1975.
History
- 1091 : The castle, belonging to Richard de Courcy, was besieged by Robert Curthose.
- At the start of the 17th century, it was demolished by order of Richelieu and, losing all military function, slowly became an agricultural enterprise.
In 1975, the remaining parts of the former castle including the gate on the road from Tôtes and the gateway to the second enceinte
Enceinte
Enceinte , is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle....
were protected by being added to the supplementary inventory of historical monuments. In spite of this protection, the condition of the site has continued to deteriorate.
Successive owners of the property
- Baudric le Teuton obtained the Courcy land by homage to Richard II, Duke of NormandyRichard II, Duke of NormandyRichard II , called the Good , was the eldest son and heir of Richard I the Fearless and Gunnora.-Biography:...
. - Robert de Courcy
Description
The first castle in Courcy was probably built of earth and wood..The structure of the fortification was conceived as a succession of three enceinte
Enceinte
Enceinte , is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle....
s (one surrounding the village, another around the lower court and the last constituting the heart of the fortress): only the last remains.
Surrounded by moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
s, the last enceinte was about 10 m high and defended by twelve towers, of which only nine round towers remain, and a square tower which probably served as a keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
.
Elsewhere in the enceinte are the remains of the Saint Catherine chapel, datable to the 12th century but having been greatly remodelled in the 15th-16th centuries.
External links
- Ministry of culture listing
- Ministry of Culture photo, Service Départemental d'Archoléogie du Calvados, 1997
- Aerial photograph of the castle
