Château de la Madeleine

Chevreuse, France

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Château de la Madeleine in Chevreuse, France, is a medieval fortress built between 1020 and 1090 by Guy I, lord of Chevreuse, primarily to protect the village from raids, with only the original keep surviving from that era amid later stone walls added in the 12th century.

Fortifications expanded significantly in the 14th and 15th centuries under royal patronage during the Hundred Years' War, including machicolations, moats, and a crenelated rampart around the village, while it changed hands notably in 1356 when its owner sold it to ransom himself from English captivity.

Perched on a hill overlooking the Yvette Valley, the well-preserved ruins feature square towers, a guard tower, and panoramic views, now managed by the Yvelines department since 1981 as headquarters for the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park, offering free access to courtyards, ramparts, and exhibits on its history.