Caen in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe

Le Donjon
⎯⎯⎯
From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025

1. Le Donjon / From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

French:
Le Donjon
L'enceinte du Donjon enferme plusieurs bâtiments. Une grande tour de style anglo-normand est construite vers 1120 par Henri Ier Beauclerc (1100-1135), fils et héritier de Guillaume le Conquérant. Elle mesure alors environ 25 mètres de haut sur 27 mètres de côté. Après la prise de contrôle des forteresses normandes en 1204, le roi de France Philippe Auguste complète la défense avec une muraille à quatre tours d'angle. Un profond fossé est creusé autour de cet ensemble qui devient une fortification autonome dans la partie nord du château. La destruction du Donjon est ordonnée pendant la Révolution française, en 1793, mais ne s'achève finalement qu'au début du 19e siècle. Les fouilles archéologiques menées dans les années 1950-1960 ont permis de dégager les vestiges enterrés.

Légendes
(Photo #1) Le donjon après 1204 - modèle Virtual Past, 2012
(Photo #2) Un donjon anglo-normand: Rochester (Kent) - Photo English Heritage

English:
From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet
Built around 1120

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by Henry I Beauclerc, the great tower was at least 25 metres high. After taking control of the Norman fortresses (1204), King of France Philip Augustus built a protective chemise wall with four corner towers around the great Norman tower and its annexes, surrounded by a deep moat. It created thus a reinforced citadel in the northern part of the castle: the Donjon. During the French Revolution, orders were given to destroy this «feudal» monument, although it was not completely levelled until the 19th century. Excavations have uncovered its remains, which have been interpreted and developed into their currently visible condition.

Captions
(Photo #1) The dungeon after 1204 - Virtual Past model, 2012
(Photo #2) An Anglo-Norman keep: Rochester (Kent) - Photo English Heritage

German:
Donjon: Von den Herzögen der Normandie bis zu den Königen Frankreichs
Der unter Heinrich I. Beauclerc um 1120 errichtete der große Turm war damals fast dreißig Meter hoch. Nachdem der französische König Philipp August 1204 die Kontrolle über die Festungen der Normandie erlangte, umgab er den großen normannischen Turm und seine Nebengebäude mit einer Mantelmauer mit vier Ecktürmen und einem tiefen Graben und schuf so einen befestigten Rückzugsort (Reduit) im Norden des Schlosses: der Donjon. Während der

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025

2. Le Donjon / From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet Marker

Französischen Revolution wurde der Befehl gegeben, das „feudale“ Monument zu zerstören, doch vollständig eingeebnet wurde es erst zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts. Ausgrabungen förderten die Überreste zu Tage, die so wie heute zu sehen interpretiert und wieder aufgebaut wurden.

Bildunterschriften
(Foto #1) Der Kerker nach 1204 – Virtual Past-Modell, 2012
(Foto #2) Ein anglonormannischer Bergfried: Rochester (Kent) – Foto English Heritage

Erected by Château de Caen, Mussee de Normandie.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1120.

Location. 49° 11.209′ N, 0° 21.797′ W. Marker is in Caen, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is at the intersection of Av. de la Libération and Rue Montoir Poissonnerie on Av. de la Libération. The marker is located on the grounds of the Château de Caen. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Château de Caen, Caen, Normandie 14000, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony

and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La salle de l'Échiquier / The Dukes of Normandy's Great Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Vieux Palais / The Old Palace (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Donjon et ses fossés / The Donjon and its moat

The ruins of one of the corner towers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025

3. The ruins of one of the corner towers

(within shouting distance of this marker); Les tours du côté des champs / The Field-side Tower (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); La porte des Champs / The Castle Gate (about 90 meters away); Province of Ontario Memorial (about 90 meters away); L'église Saint-Georges / Saint George's Church (about 120 meters away); Le rempart sur la ville et la tour Puchot / The rampart overlooking the town and the Puchot Tower (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Caen.

Also see . . . The Keep. (Submitted on June 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

A view of Le Donjon from above image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025

4. A view of Le Donjon from above

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.

Le Donjon⎯⎯⎯From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet

Le Donjon
⎯⎯⎯
From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet