Photo : ℍenry Salomé / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Donjon de Houdan
The Houdan keep, in the Yvelines, is a twelfth-century great tower, raised in the first half of the century, around 1120–1137 according to the most often cited dating, by Amaury III de Montfort, Count of Évreux. Some sources date it rather to the end of the twelfth century.
This tower, about 25 metres high, has four levels and about 250 steps. It is among the witnesses of the military architecture of the period and dominates the small medieval town of Houdan.
Over the centuries, the keep has served as a lookout, a store and a prison. From 1880 to 1970, a 200,000-litre water tank was even installed at its top. The building has been protected as a historic monument since 1889.
Guided and self-guided visits are offered, notably during the Heritage Days. The climb lets you discover the tower's rooms and the panorama over the town and its surroundings.
