A bit of history
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THE tour grise
From its height of 22 meters, all clad in rust, "La Tour Grise" of Verneuil-sur-Avre does not go unnoticed. This impregnable construction, listed as a Historic Monument, with its nearly 4-meters-thick grey walls, has watched over the city since the beginning of the 13th century.
English, since its construction in 1120 by Henry I Beauclerc, son of William the Conqueror, Verneuil-sur-Avre fell into the hands of the French in 1204 on the fall of the Duchy of Normandy. The same year, Philippe Auguste, King of France, built the tower, as a symbol of his victory and new domination over the city.
The tower took on a military function: knights are permanently based there to ensure the surveillance of the surroundings, but not only! The king wants to keep an eye on the inhabitants of Verneuil whom he does not really seem to trust...
Witness to many battles, including the bloody battle of 1424, "La Tour Grise" has withstood the ravages of time and survived through 8 centuries of history almost unscathed. In the 17th century, the tower even managed to escape destruction when the old castle of the city was razed by order of Louis XIII.
In the 19th century, "La Tour Grise" became the property of a certain Mr. Duval, who wrested it from its military past. At that time, it even underwent surprising transformations: a top floor was created, surmounted by turrets and decorated with windows. Hotel-restaurant, tourist attraction… then numerous rumours circulated about this establishment which was finally forced to close.
Left abandoned for several years, but protected by the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments, "La Tour Grise" is bought by the municipality of Verneuil-sur-Avre in 1954. Thanks to numerous works, the tower regained its former military aspect.
Since 1984, it is possible to discover exhibitions there. True witness to our past, the tower watches over Verneuil and tells us its story: Duchy of Normandy, Hundred Years War...
So, what are you waiting for to discover it?
The Battle of Verneuil
At dawn on a day in August 1424, the town of Verneuil-sur-Avre prepares to witness a terrible battle...
Since 1337, the Hundred Years War has been raging. French and English fight tirelessly for Norman lands. Verneuil is not spared. While the city was in the hands of the English, the French had an idea: to take the city, by trickery! The French troops were then allied with the Scots by the "Auld Alliance". Together, they will manage to trick the English into believing that the French army was coming and that they had better go on the field! The deception works, the English, resigned, surrender without incident.
Obviously, when this reached the ears of the Duke of Bedford, at the head of the English army, English troops walked with a determined step towards Verneuil, anxious to take back the city as quickly as possible from these usurpers. The armies set up at dawn, at noon everyone is ready, but no one moves for two hours... They remain motionless under a blazing sun.
Finally, the French launched the attack. A rain of thousands of arrows fell on the troops already exhausted by the heat and the weight of their equipment. Some of the soldiers fled but for many of them, it was already too late: impossible to go back. The English troops who had remained in the rear until then, joined the battle and took the advantage. It was a real massacre. Within two hours, more than 7,000 men lost their lives.
medieval normandy
For nearly three centuries, the Avre valley had the perilous honour of serving as the border between the Kingdom of France and the Duchy of Normandy. In Normandy South Eure, towns, fortresses and religious buildings constitute today the vestiges of this glorious past.
A destination intimately linked to its medieval history.
From the end of the 8th century, the Vikings, formidable warriors of the sea, arrived from Scandinavia and devastated the coasts of England, Scotland, Ireland and France. In 911, the French royal power, not very powerful to eradicate the raid, gave them a territory that would be called “Normandy”.
In 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, also became King of England. Its conquest boosts the economy of the Normandy which becomes a threatening territory for the King of France.
150 years later, the King of France Philippe Auguste ended up prevailing over Duke Richard, known as the “Coeur de Lion, Lionheart”. It is the end of ducal Normandy.
William the Conqueror and his son, Henri 1er Beauclerc shaped the territory of Normandy South Eure by developing many fortified towns. The most important were those of Verneuil, Tillières and Chennebrun located in the first line of defence, along the Avre, as well as those of Avrilly, Breteuil, Gouville and Damville, further north.
Thus, they protected Normandy from any invasion for a century.
Today, donjons, ramparts, royal moats, churches and hydraulic works are some of the buildings that bear witness to this turbulent history.