Château de Longueville

Château de Longueville is a set of medieval castle ruins on the edge of the small town of Longueville-sur-Scie in Normandy, in the Seine-Maritime department. Little remains of the original stronghold beyond its foundations and a partly surviving tower, but the site's history stretches back to the era of William the Conqueror.

Who built the castle at Longueville?

The site is older than the stone castle itself - it may have been used as a Roman castrum, and the first medieval fortification, built of wood, dates back to the 9th century. The stone castle whose foundations survive today was raised in the 11th century by Gauthier Giffard. In 1055, William the Conqueror granted him the county of Longueville in recognition of his role in the siege of Arques Castle and the battle of Mortemer the year before. Giffard was one of William's closest vassals, and the grant turned Longueville into one of the more significant seats of power in the region.

What survives of the castle today?

What remains is the ruined keep, roughly 14 metres in diameter, which once guarded the approach toward the town. By the 15th century the castle also had three further towers - a corner tower, a watchtower and an armoury tower - and the whole complex was split into an upper and a lower courtyard, separated by a wall. Today the grounds are open to walk through, with the foundations and the outline of the old fortifications still visible.

How did the castle fare during the Hundred Years' War?

Between 1350 and 1453, Longueville repeatedly changed hands between the French and the English - a fate shared by many Norman strongholds during the Hundred Years' War. It was only once Normandy returned to French control, thanks in large part to the Count of Dunois, that the castle's situation stabilised. In 1443, Charles VII rewarded Dunois for his role in that campaign by granting him the county of Longueville.

Can visitors explore the ruins?

Yes, the ruins stand on Allée Lebaudy in Longueville-sur-Scie and are open to visitors. Recent conservation work has stabilised the structure, created a proper access path and cleared away vegetation that had previously blocked views of the walls. An information panel on site shows a reconstruction of how the castle looked in the 15th century, making it easier to picture the fortress at the height of its power.

When was the castle listed as a historic monument?

The protection history is a bit tangled. The castle was first listed as a historic monument in 1862, only to be removed from that list in 1886. In the meantime, the town bought the castle grounds in 1882. It was listed again in June 1944, but only received its final classification as a historic monument in 1969.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Château de Longueville? The ruins stand on Allée Lebaudy in the town of Longueville-sur-Scie, in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy.

Who built the castle? The stone castle was built in the 11th century by Gauthier Giffard, after William the Conqueror granted him the county of Longueville in 1055.

What can you see on site today? The foundations and a partly preserved keep about 14 metres in diameter, a marked access path, and an information panel showing the castle's 15th-century appearance.

Is the castle a protected monument? Yes, after a somewhat back-and-forth listing history, it was finally classified as a historic monument in 1969.