Château des Ducs
About Château des Ducs
The Château des Ducs is a 14th-century ducal palace built by Pierre II de Valois around 1370 on the site of an earlier Norman fortress founded by Henri Beauclerc, son of William the Conqueror. The castle served as an important royal court throughout the Middle Ages, hosting monarchs including Henri II Plantagenet, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, and King François I. The building features a large rectangular structure with two square towers on its eastern facade and a pentagonal staircase turret. Classified as a Monument Historique since 1889, the castle now functions as Argentan's courthouse (Palais de Justice) and cannot be visited inside. Visitors can admire its finely chiseled facade and Gothic-Renaissance architecture from the street. The adjacent Chapelle Saint-Nicolas, built in 1373 as the castle's chapel, now houses the Tourist Office.
Interesting Facts
Eleanor of Aquitaine made Argentan her residence after the death of her husband King Henri II in 1189. She frequently hosted her son Richard the Lionheart here before he became king.
The medieval town of Argentan was protected by four layers of defense: an outer wall encircling the city, an inner wall with 16 round towers, the ducal castle itself, and a central keep. Only fragments of these fortifications survive today.
The castle suffered heavy damage during World War II bombings in 1944 but was carefully restored afterward. Before the war, it had already undergone significant changes - it was converted into a city hall and prison in 1727, then transformed into a courthouse in 1827.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
2-4 Rue des Anciens Combattants, 61200 Argentan, France
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