Château de Fontaine-Henry (Explored)
ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
This Renaissance castle was built by the family d'Harcourt and it took nearly a hundred years to finish it (hence it's mainly a Renaissance building, finished in 1560, but it has some details that are in the Gothic style known as Flamboyant). There was actually a fortress built here already in the 11th century and in the beginning of the 13th century this was replaced by a castle (which might explain why it next to the current castle stands a very medieval chapel).
And yes, that is a very steep roof. Steep and high. When it was built it aimed to be the highest roof in France (not the highest building, mind you, the highest roof). It's a beautiful castle, but that is a little bit weird!
The castle is still owned by people who are direct descendants of the family who first started building this castle - though the surname has sometimes changed and the current owners carry the name d’Oilliamson - since it a few times was inherited by women. The house is still privately owned, but the interior can be visited on guided tours (no photography allowed, though).
Château de Fontaine-Henry (Explored)
ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
This Renaissance castle was built by the family d'Harcourt and it took nearly a hundred years to finish it (hence it's mainly a Renaissance building, finished in 1560, but it has some details that are in the Gothic style known as Flamboyant). There was actually a fortress built here already in the 11th century and in the beginning of the 13th century this was replaced by a castle (which might explain why it next to the current castle stands a very medieval chapel).
And yes, that is a very steep roof. Steep and high. When it was built it aimed to be the highest roof in France (not the highest building, mind you, the highest roof). It's a beautiful castle, but that is a little bit weird!
The castle is still owned by people who are direct descendants of the family who first started building this castle - though the surname has sometimes changed and the current owners carry the name d’Oilliamson - since it a few times was inherited by women. The house is still privately owned, but the interior can be visited on guided tours (no photography allowed, though).