Experts' Choice Award Château Gaillard
What the experts agree on
Richard the Lionheart's dramatic clifftop fortress, built in just two years (1196-1198) to defend English Normandy, now stands as evocative ruins overlooking the Seine valley—a striking reminder of medieval power struggles.
“its clifftop ruins are a reminder of its dramatic past and a fascinating place to visit.”
– U.S. News & World Report
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Château Gaillard was built with unbelievable dispatch between 1196 and 1198, securing the western border of English territory until Henry IV ordered its destruction in 1603." Full review
Fodor's "Château Gaillard was built in a mere two years, between 1196 and 1198, by Richard the Lionheart, King of England and the Duke of Normandy, to protect Rouen against French forces." Full review
