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Château de Dourdan today

France · Still standing

Château de Dourdan

The Château de Dourdan is a 13th-century royal fortress in Dourdan, Essonne, built on a compact square plan with an isolated circular donjon and curtain walls punctuated by towers. The keep (donjon) is a tall, cylindrical stone tower characteristic of Philip II Augustus-era military architecture; the site now preserves the masonry and houses a local history museum.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1220

Its prime

1220

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1220

What Château de Dourdan looked like in its prime.

The Château de Dourdan is a compact square fortress of pale limestone ashlar with curtain walls punctuated by round mid-wall towers and a pair of large cylindrical towers flanking the main gatehouse; an isolated massive circular donjon occupies the opposite corner. The gate is set in a pointed stone arch between the twin towers, which rise to steep conical roofs topped with metal finials and weather-vanes. Walls show narrow vertical arrow-slits, irregular coursing, and a stone-lined dry moat encircles the base, with a raised cobbled entrance approach.

Its story

The story of Château de Dourdan.

The châtellenie of Dourdan belonged to the Crown lands of France from the 10th century, and Philip Augustus had the present fortress built in the 1220s in place of a wooden structure. Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, daughter-in-law of Philip IV, was detained here from 1314 to 1315 in connection with the Tour de Nesle affair, and La Hire, one of Joan of Arc's comrades-in-arms, also resided in the castle.

The castle became the property of Jean de Berry in 1385 and was besieged during the French Wars of Religion. At the end of the 17th century it was given to the Duke of Orléans, who turned it into a prison; the donjon held prisoners until 1852 and now houses a museum of local history.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1220.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Château de Dourdan, including 2 interiors: gate passage (through the arch), donjon interior, vaulted chamber / holding room. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach across the dry moatGatehouse exterior and twin towersGate passage (through the arch)Exterior curtain wall between towersBase of the isolated donjon (outer approach)Donjon interior, vaulted chamber / holding roomDonjon upper level and roofline

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Recreate Château de Dourdan with AI to explore it.

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Château de Dourdan.

Palace of Versailles, FrancePalacePalace of Versailles32 km awayGardens of Versailles, FranceGardenGardens of Versailles32 km awayChâteau de Saint-Cloud, FrancePalaceChâteau de Saint-Cloud37 km away

Questions about Château de Dourdan

What is the history of Château de Dourdan?

Château de Dourdan is a 13th-century royal fortress built in the 1220s to replace an earlier wooden structure. It became the property of Jean de Berry in 1385 and was besieged during the French Wars of Religion. At the end of the 17th century, the Duke of Orléans turned it into a prison; the donjon held prisoners until 1852 and now houses a museum of local history.

What is inside Château de Dourdan?

Inside Château de Dourdan are the gate passage, the donjon interior and vaulted chambers, including a former holding room. The donjon contains a vaulted common room with a fireplace, oven, hand mill and a well set into the wall. A stair leads to an upper chamber, then to a watch room beneath the roof.

Why was Château de Dourdan built, and what was it used for?

Château de Dourdan was built as a powerful stone fortress to strengthen royal authority and secure the territory of Philip Augustus. Its later uses changed substantially: the Duke of Orléans transformed it into a prison in 1690, and the donjon served as a prison until 1852. It now houses a museum of local history.

Where is Château de Dourdan?

Château de Dourdan is in Dourdan, in the Essonne department of the Île-de-France region. It stands in the Orge valley, less than two hundred metres north of the river, facing Place Charles-de-Gaulle. Dourdan lies on the historic route between Paris and Chartres.

When was Château de Dourdan built?

Château de Dourdan was built in the 13th century, between 1220 and 1222. Philip Augustus commissioned the stone fortress in place of an earlier wooden structure. Its construction followed the square-plan fortification style associated with his reign, with an isolated donjon and defensive towers.

Was Château de Dourdan ever attacked or besieged?

Château de Dourdan was attacked during the French Wars of Religion, when Protestant forces sacked the town. The captain of the forces took refuge in the donjon, which was captured on 17 May 1591. This was a fall of the donjon rather than an unqualified statement that the entire castle was destroyed.

What did Château de Dourdan look like in its prime?

At its height, Château de Dourdan was a compact square fortress of pale limestone ashlar, enclosed by curtain walls and a stone-lined dry moat. Round towers punctuated the walls, while twin cylindrical towers flanked the pointed-arch gatehouse. An isolated massive circular donjon occupied the opposite corner, with narrow vertical arrow-slits and steep conical roofs over the gate towers.

Is Château de Dourdan still standing, or is it a ruin?

Château de Dourdan is still standing and is described as intact rather than a ruin. Its masonry, towers, curtain walls, dry moat and donjon survive. Restoration work included the north-east tower in 1972, the moat around the donjon between 1975 and 1977, and further work on the roofs, façades, donjon, corner tower and curtain walls from 1980 to 1987.

Who built Château de Dourdan?

Philip II of France commissioned Château de Dourdan. The supplied material does not name a separate architect or designer. Its plan and construction belong to the military architecture associated with Philip II Augustus, including a square layout, defensive towers and an isolated donjon.

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