Donjon Pons - From Below

Our last medieval blog post featured the magnificent donjon in Pons in the Charente-Maritime. We were able to show you the views from the very top of the donjon looking out for miles across the French countryside.

Today we are going back down to the bottom of the donjon and looking up. This video clip gives an idea of the size and scale of the tower. Imagine what it took to construct this back in medieval times - in 1187 in fact.

This particular donjon is now classed as one of France's historical monuments and is regarded as the best example of its type in SW France. The tower is 30m in height and its walls are between 2.5m and 4.4m thick.

Read about the magnificent donjon in Bazoges-en-Pareds.

Read more about medieval donjons.

Medieval Donjon - Rooftop View

Medieval castles had common architectural features and the donjon is perhaps one of the most notable. Introduced into Britain by the Normans, the donjon became known in England as the castle keep.

Medieval history enthusiasts today can enjoy visiting many castle keeps whch have been lovingly restored and preserved. Some are just a shell and a shadow of their former medieval glory but others still have their staircases and interior rooms and floors intact. This type of donjon is always well worth a visit.

Pons is a small medieval town in SW France. It's a place most people have never heard of and yet it has a fabulous, preserved medieval donjon. Here is a video clip of the views from the very top of the donjon, sufficient to make you realise the degree of advantage such a high building brought to the town's people back in medieval times.

Medieval Palace In Poitiers

Medieval castles of the greatest note usually have association with a great medieval ruler. One such example is Chinon Castle in the Loire Valley where King Henry II Of England died. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, survived him and lived until she was 80 years old. Her story is a magnificently colourful one and she is perhaps amongst the greatest, if not the greatest, of medieval women.

We are blessed to have been able to visit numerous places associated with Eleanor, particularly in France. Chinon is one example as mentioned above. Another is the city of Poitiers where she was educated as a child. The Ducal Palace in Poitiers was a focal point for Eleanor as a child as it was her grandfather who made it the main family residence after becoming Count of Poitou (he was already Duke of Aquitaine).

Here is a video clip of the inside of what was once the Great Hall in the Ducal Palace, now part of the law courts in the city.