Harcourt Castle in Normandy

Since the 1st March Château d’Harcourt in upper Normandy is opened. So we took advantage of the good weather and went there last Monday.

At the entrance stands an impressive high Lebanon Cedar, which doesn’t look as impressive on the photo made with our cheap camera (grr).

Lebanon Cedar at the entrance of the arboretum, own photo, licence:CC by

On the path that leads in the actual castle stands a châtelet, a small house used as fortification to secure the entrance.

Châtelet and parts of the battlement, own photo, licence:CC by

back of the Châtelet, that has been refurbished in the 17th century. own photo, licence:CC by

The castle was built in the 12th to 14th century and refurbished in the 17th century. Parts of the battlement were destroyed in the 17th century and the stones were used for the renovation. One of the Ladys of the harcourt family tried to change the character of the castle from cold fortress to manor house.

old entry to main building, own photo, licence:CC by

the main building, view from the châtelet, own photo, licence:CC by

other side of main building, own photo, licence:CC by

The battlement was not completely destroyed, the ruins look very picturesque.

battlement, own photo, licence:CC by

2 towers and side of the châtelet, own photo, licence:CC by

Battlement, own photo, licence:CC by

Many of the trees in the arboretum are impressively high, sadly it’s next to impossible, to show this with a cheap camera.
In a walled part of the arboretum stands a dwarf beech from the forst of Verzy in France. It’s trunk, branches and even the roots grow twisted. The reason for this abnormality is unknown.

In the town of harcourt was some kind of spring jollification, everywhere were rag dolls of human size attached.
The church Saint-Ouen, built in the 13th century stands in the middle of the town.

Saint-Ouen church, own photo, licence:CC by

Saint-Ouen church, own photo, licence:CC by

There are lots of timbered houses in Harcourt, and an abbey, but I was too lazy to take photos of the latter.

More about Harcourt:From La-Neuville-du-Bosc to Harcourt

Harcourt Castle in Normandy by stanze (stanzilla, stanzebla).