Dominated by the imposing silhouette of the emblematic castle of Château-Gaillard, the small town of Les Andelys, composed of two once distinct districts, Petit Andely and Grand Andely, is located in one of the most beautiful places in the entire Seine Valley.
Built in 1196-in just one year! – by Richard the Lionheart, duke of Normandy and king of England, in order to control the valley and protect the city of Rouen from the assaults of Philip Augustus, king of France, the impressive medieval fortress offers, from its ruins perched on the fortress, a magnificent view of the meandering Seine River, lined with limestone cliffs, and the picturesque banks of the Petit Andely. A visit to the sites also allows visitors to explore the lower court (accessible year-round) and the upper court (open to the public from mid-March to mid-November) in which the great keep stands, as well as the history of the fortress, in which the famous siege and seizure of the castle by Philip Augustus in 1203-1204, which marked the subsequent annexation of Normandy to France, stand out.
At the foot of the fortress, we recommend a nice walk on the banks of the Petit Andely, along the road that runs alongside the Seine!
Also worth seeing is the collegiate church of Notre Dame in the Grand Andely district, a beautiful building of flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles that houses beautiful 16th-century stained glass windows, a Deposition, and a Renaissance carved wooden organ case.
