THE FIRST FRENCH RENAISSANCE CASTLE

- - - - WELCOME - - - -

By visiting this website, you will travel across the centuries ! Then, you will discover why this castle is one of the most important in French History.

Grace to the inspiration of a man, Cardinal Georges of Amboise, who decided to reproduce in the middle of Seine Valley in Gaillon, Normandy his vision of Italy.

This castle became before Loire Valley castles the FIRST Renaissance castle in France.

Now, I wish you an interesting visit and don't hesitate to tell me what do you think of my work, I will answer you with a great pleasure.

GAILLON CASTLE - PAST

1260 :

Coming from Evreux, archevêque Eudes Rigaud had been surprised by a storm, he saw a castle in Gaillon so he decided to sleep here. Searching for a place to protect his richnesses, he asked Louis IX, King of France to own the castle (royal castle). Therefore, from this moment, Gaillon Castle became the Summer residence for the archeveques of Rouen.

1454 :

Since 1260, no modifications were done in the castle. It was in 1454 with Cardinal Guillaume of Estouteville that the Castle became a very beautiful house called "Ostel Neuf". At the moment, only the Estouteville Tower results of the Ostel Neuf.

1498 : THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH RENAISSANCE

The Castle became the source of a new style comming from Italy. Cardinal Georges of Amboise, Prime Minister of Louis XII, King of France, built in Gaillon, a real Italian Palace from what he saw during his journeys in this country.

The construction of this fabulous castle can be divided into 2 parts :

1502 - 1506 : artists coming from Loire Valley worked in the castle to build the first part of the castle.

1506 - 1509 : during this period, Georges of Amboise asked italian artists to come in Gaillon.

The parts of the castle which show the best the rupture from the Middle Age's structure are :  

- The "châtelet" with Renaissance decorations.

- The "Cour d'honneur"

In the middle of the castle, a beautiful fountain coming from Venice and galleries with important Renaissance decorations.

- The Churches

Two churches were built in the castle, a small and a bigger with an important decoration. One of these decorations is exposed in Louvre Museum in Paris.

"St Georges combattant le Dragon" of the famous Michel COLOMBE. The author was 80 when he did it.

- The "Galerie sur le val "

Gaillon Castle own a very beautiful Gallery compared with Blois Castle gallery.

- Gardens

Gaillon was also famous for the beautiful gardens. You can see in the drawing below 2 beautiful gardens. Gaillon was one of the first castle to have gardens in France.

The famous Le Nôtre (Versailles Castle) came in Gaillon for the gardens.

At this moment, Gaillon was the most beautiful place in France. It was usual to say when we saw a beautiful house : "Oh, it's a small Gaillon".

1510 : Death of the Cardinal Geoges of Amboise.

His tomb is in Rouen's church. After his death, the works went on. The archeveques who followed him like Charles of Bourbon, François II Of Harlay and Jacques Nicolas Colbert worked hard to preserve the castle untill 1789. The famous Mansart and Le Nôtre have been called to work in Gaillon.

1789 : French Revolution

Like a lots of others French beauties, Gaillon was totally destroyed during the French revolution.

1812 - 1905

Napoleon Bonaparte decided to create a prison in the castle. After the castle was sold and destroyed more and more.

1975 :

French government decided to own the castle to restore it and give him all his dignity.

Everybody has to know his glorious past and we have to keep in mind that before the famous Loire Valley Castles (Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois ...), Gaillon was the first and the most beautiful Renaissance Castle. 

GAILLON CASTLE - NOW

Since 1975, French Government works a lot for the castle. Works of restorations are very important and expensive. This explain the fact that it's so long.

Grace to the restoration, we can now imagine all the beauty of the Renaissance Castle built by Cardinal Georges of Amboise.

BEFORE RESTORATION :

AFTER RESTORATION :

TO COME IN GAILLON AND SEE THE CASTLE :

90 km from Paris, 45 km from Rouen.

By Road : A 13 towards Rouen

By Train : From St Lazare Station (Paris) or Rouen Station to Gaillon Station