Brionne Keep

The Brionne Keep, locally known as Donjon de Brionne, lies above the village of the same name, in the Eure department in France.

The town of Brionne already existed in Roman times. It was defended by a fortification on a small islet in the river Risle, which flows through the town. This older fortification was besieged twice; first in 1047 and then in 1090. After that second siege the Lord of Brionne, Robert I de Meulan, built a massive square Norman keep on a hill overlooking the town. It was defended by an earthen enclosure and a dry moat from the rest of the plateau.

In 1124, King Henry I of England, besieged the keep, which was then owned by Waleran de Meulan, a son of Robert. In 1194 the town was taken by King Philip II of France.

In 1421, the town was attacked and pillaged by an English army. It was sacked again in 1562, this time by Protestant troops.

The Brionne Keep was largely demolished in 1735 by the townspeople to provide building materials for several mills at the Risle river.

At present the Brionne Keep consists of the northern and part of the western wall, up to a height of 17 meters. When it was still complete it would have been a square keep, of 20 by 20 meters and with 4 meter thick walls. It would have had 3 floors.

The area around the keep is now a small town park and can be visited freely. This must have been a great keep when it was still complete.

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