Chevreuse, Chateau de la
Madeleine
SE of Houdan, Chevreuse covers
another route of approach to Paris. It is supposed to have been
founded between 1020 and 1090, under the first Guy Chevreuse (Caprosa).
Considering two separate Miles Chevreuse were lords there during this
time, viz in February 1031 and in 1074, it seems somewhat unlikely that
the Guy suggested as the builder was founder of the castle as he was
the younger brother of the second Miles in 1074. The history of
the owning family is obscure, but Geoffreys, Miles, Walters and Guys
are found here during the twelfth century. The castle may have
been attacked in the period 1170-96 when Robert Sarnaio invaded the
lands of Guy Cabrosiensi,
possibly during the wars between Capet and Plantagenet. The
Chevreuse family continued in control of the castle, although their
genealogy has yet to be properly fathomed out. The castle had
left their control by 1356 when Ingerger le Grand, lord of Chevreuse
and Amboise, was taken prisoner at the battle of Poitiers. He
sold Chevreuse to pay his ransom, the castle being bought by Pierre
Chevreuse, possibly from the family of the original builders. The
fortifications were improved under Charles V (1338-80) and Charles VI
(1368-1422), both occasions being financed by royal taxes. These
modifications were completed under Louis XI (1461–1483), who also
fortified the town with turrets and a crenellated rampart 11' high and
a 50' wide ditch. Circa 1661, Jean Racine supervised
modifications to the keep which was again partially restored during the
nineteenth century.
Description
The castle consists of an irregular enceinte with an older rectangular
hall-keep to the west. The keep, with 4 pilaster buttresses on
the long sides, is of two storeys over a basement. The south side
has had to be shored up with later buttresses and has received a modern
gable roof in the position of its medieval predecessor.
The enceinte has been heavily damaged to east and west. The S
side consists of a thick curtain of twelfth or thirteenth century date
with two [earlier or later?] rectangular towers to the south and
south-west, with a further one to the west. These towers bear
some comparison with Rochester.
The curtain is heavily buttressed and has been fitted with an
intriguing machicolation as well as a postern. To the south-east
is a U shaped backless tower which has a garderobe chute at the
base. A damaged round tower stands to the north-east, but this
has a full machicolation and may date to the fifteenth century as its
rubble ashlar suggests. To the north is an open backed barely
projecting turret, while to the north-west is a boldly projecting
polygonal tower similar to Guy's Tower at Warwick castle.
With its stair turret is also bears comparison with Tonquedec in
Brittany. Just south of this tower, north of the keep, are the
remains of a twin towered gatehouse, which might be twelfth century
like the similar one at Pevensey.
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Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry