Picquigny Castle

Picquigny Castle, locally known as Château de Picquigny, lies on a hill in the village with the same name, in the Somme department in France.

Picquigny Castle was built in 1066.

In 1307 Renault de Picquigny, by order of Philip IV, King of France, arrested the Templars in the city of Amiens and imprisoned them in the dungeons of Picquigny Castle where they were tortured.

In 1470 Picquigny Castle was taken by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy before his siege of Amiens.

In 1597 Henry IV stayed for a couple of days at the castle before sieging Amiens.

In July 1595 the town and castle of Picquigny served as a refuge for the remnants of the French army which had tried to come to the aid of the town of Doullens but was defeated by the Spanish.

In 1636 Cardinal Richelieu stayed at the castle during his inspections of the Abbeville fortifications.

Picquigny Castle was rebuilt in the 14th, 16th and 17th century. The present ruins mostly date back to the Renaissance. The castle suffered considerable damage during WW I. Within the outer walls of the castle stands the Collegiate Saint Martin church, which was founded as the castle chapel in 1066.

Although the castle can be visited, it was closed when I came by, as was the church. Too bad, because I would have loved to view their interiors.

Gallery