Chateau Gaillard

• Chateau Gaillard was located on the River Seine overlooking the Vexin
• The castle was built in two years (1196-8) and cost £12000
• It was a defensive structure and royal palace where Richard could hold courts
• It was built hundreds of feet above the town and harbour at Les Andelys, which made it difficult to tunnel underneath
• It had round walls that seemed impossible to attack with catapults