| Chateau Gaillard was built by Richard the | | | | difficult and it was thought that the French forces |
| Lionhearted and it was sieged and taken by the | | | | would not be able to accomplish the task until a |
| French in 1204 AD. The story of this castle, and | | | | flaw in the design of the castle was discovered. |
| its siege is one of the most interesting stories in | | | | They found an unguarded toilet chute that lead |
| medieval history. | | | | right into a chapel within the second wall. French |
| Chateau Gaillard is a medieval castle in every | | | | forces entered the chute and took over this |
| sense. When we think of medieval times and | | | | middle section of the fortification. |
| castles, or when we watch a movie with combat | | | | The third, and final castle fortification, was |
| from this period, we are seeing what happened | | | | surrounded by a water moat with a natural rock |
| during the life and times of this magnificent castle. | | | | bridge that crossed it. The sieging army used the |
| Richard the Lion Hearted built it between 1196 and | | | | rock bridge as cover while they dug a tunnel that |
| 1198 as part of his Crusades campaign, and | | | | breached the wall. This breaching of the final wall |
| although it isn't a functioning castle anymore its | | | | was the demise of the castle and the knights that |
| remains can still be seen and visited. | | | | remained (20 knights, and 120 men at arms) |
| It was built on a natural triangular formation of | | | | surrendered to King Philip. |
| land on the bank of the Seine river and had all the | | | | The siege of this castle is definitive of what |
| hallmarks of a well-designed and well-fortified | | | | warfare was like in the middle ages before the |
| castle with both water and land as protection. It | | | | advent of gunpowder. Practically every type of |
| also had a remarkable set of three concentric | | | | siege technique was used to bring this fortress |
| circles for defense. The outer circle was wooden | | | | down. These included siege towers and the |
| and the two inner circles were stone. These | | | | effective method of mining tunnels under |
| formations posed a formidable challenge to any | | | | fortifications to either breach or collapse the walls. |
| attacking force but they were not invincible. In | | | | The French also used Greek fire to destroy |
| 1203 AD Philip, the King of France, lay siege to | | | | wooden parts of the castle and the French navy |
| this castle and after eight months of battle it | | | | even erected siege towers on the tops of their |
| surrendered to him on March 8, 1204. | | | | warships. They then sailed the ships up close to |
| The siege began in August of 1203 when King | | | | the castle to make their assaults. |
| Philip massed his forces around the land structure | | | | There were many battles and sieges during the |
| and dug ditches for protection. His forces then | | | | middle ages and the siege of the Chateau Gaillard |
| proceeded to dig a mining tunnel under the outer | | | | is probably one of the most interesting and is one |
| wooden wall of the castle. This breached the wall | | | | that defines what warfare was during that period |
| and the first step of the siege was complete. | | | | of time. |
| The second castle wall proved to be much more | | | | |