Vue aérienne des ruines d'un château médiéval entouré de murs de pierreVue aérienne des ruines d'un château médiéval. Les murs de pierre, partiellement effondrés, entourent une cour centrale. Les toits des bâtiments sont recouverts de mousse et de végétation. Le paysage environnant est composé de prairies et de plans d'eau.
©Les ruines d'un château médiéval se dressent majestueusement dans un paysage verdoyant.|Département de la Manche

The site of Regnéville castle

  1. Page d’accueil
  2. Sentiers d’interprétation de Regnéville-sur-Mer
  3. Parcours chateau
  4. Le site du château de Regnéville

The site of Regneville Castle

From the 14th century, thanks to the proximity of the dry port, Regnéville Castle saw its influence rise, to the detriment of the old castle in Montchaton situated upstream along the estuary of the Sienne. Unlike most castles of the Middle Ages built on high ground, Regnéville Castle is constructed at the bottom of a slope, at sea level.

A site with its “feet in the water”

The castle is primitively built on a rocky plane bordered by dunes to the south and an ancient cliff with a gentle slope to the north. It is on this cliff that the town and church of Regnéville were constructed. The rocks of the plane are easily extracted sandstone or reddish conglomerate, used directly in the construction of the castle.

Vue d'une église et de ruines près de la côteUne église en pierre avec un clocher et des ruines anciennes se trouvent près de la côte. L'horizon lointain est visible au-delà des structures, avec des maisons et des bâtiments dispersés autour. Le paysage est ouvert et dégagé, avec une végétation clairsemée.
©Une église et des ruines anciennes se dressent près de la côte, offrant une vue imprenable sur l'horizon.|S Lechartier

    Peacetime defence for the port and town

    From the end of the 12th century, the dry harbour of Regnéville was a bustling commercial port. In addition to a peak of activity during the Montmartin Fair, there was port traffic all year round, with ships coming from neighbouring provinces such as Maine and Brittany as well as Europe with Spain, England, the Netherlands and Hanseatic towns of the North Sea and the Baltics. Some of the taxes on merchandise arriving in the port assured the building, maintenance and defence of the castle. The remainder constituted the income of the Lord of the area.

     

    > Why is Regnéville Castle easily open to attack by troops coming from inland ?
    Answer : Its low position means it is dominated by the troops and artillery attacking from inland.