Château de la Madeleine

Gazing up at the Château de la Madeleine, one might hear whispers of history carried on the wind. This isn’t the Marseille you might find on postcards. Château de la Madeleine stands proudly in Chevreuse, a town tucked away in the Yvelines department. The very name, Château de la Madeleine, comes from a chapel dedicated to Sainte Marie-Madeleine within its walls. The castle’s story began between 1020 and 1090. Guy I, lord of Chevreuse, envisioned a stronghold to protect the village from pillaging. The imposing keep, a testament to his vision, still stands today. Originally, a wooden palisade surrounded the keep. This was later replaced by sturdy stone curtain walls in the 12th century. Under Anseau de Chevreuse, likely in the 13th century, the Château de la Madeleine underwent significant changes. Machicolations were added, bolstering its defenses. A moat was dug to protect the gatehouse, its water also serving domestic purposes. The Hundred Years’ War brought turmoil. In 1356, Ingerger le Grand, lord of Chevreuse, was captured by the English. To pay his ransom, he sold the castle to Pierre de Chevreuse. Royal funds further strengthened the fortifications during the reigns of Charles V and Charles VI. These improvements were finally completed under Louis XI. Even the village of Chevreuse benefited from enhanced defenses, complete with a crenelated rampart and a large ditch. Centuries passed, and in the 17th century, the literary figure Jean Racine oversaw modifications to the keep. The path from the convent of Port-Royal to Chevreuse, passing by the castle, now bears his name. The keep itself was partially restored in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the Château de la Madeleine embraced a new purpose. It became the headquarters of the regional natural park. Modern architecture now mingles with ancient towers and rooms. Today, you can still see the complete curtain wall. The main door, though its original stone pediment has been replaced by a wooden lintel, stands between two towers. Round towers, one semicircular, the other topped with a watchtower, continue to survey the landscape. The keep’s small 11th-century openings contrast with larger 15th-century windows, showcasing the castle’s evolving history. A 15th-century well and machicolations atop the ramparts remain as silent witnesses to the past. The Château de la Madeleine stands as a timeless reminder of a rich and layered history, open for all to explore.