Grez-sur-Loing
The castle is said to have been erected in 1127 by King
Louis VI the Gros (d.1137), although the keep is similar to earlier ones, viz
the Tower of London and Ivry. It guarded a crossing over the River
Loing. Known as the tower of Gal, or
Ganne, it lay on the border between the Ile
de France and Burgundy. The castle was favoured by
the Capets and was lived in by Blanche of Castile (1188-1252),
Philip IV the Fair (1268-1314) and John II (1319-64). During the Hundred Years War
the castle was attacked in 1359 and 1370. This did some damage to
the fortress, but it was reparied for Louise Savoy, the
mother of
King Francis I (1494-1547), died here in 1531, allegedly a victim of a
chill after
watching a comet.
The tower is now heavily ruined and appears to be of two
builds, the upper floor having mostly post Romanesque large windows.
A turret containing an east facing
oratory shows traces of a destroyed dome similar to that found at the
Tower of London.
Why not join me here and at other French
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry