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.
First raised
1220
Its prime
1220
Today
Still standing
As it stood in 1220
The shape it held 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 walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Château de Dourdan with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1220 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →
