kids encyclopedia robot

Les Andelys facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Blason ville fr Les Andelys (Eure)
Coat of arms

Les Andelys is a charming town in the north of France. It's located in the Eure department, which is part of the Normandy region. In 2017, about 8,056 people lived there. Les Andelys is famous for its beautiful scenery and a very old castle called Château Gaillard.

History of Les Andelys

Les Andelys has a long and interesting history, especially because of its famous castle. The town is actually made up of two parts: Grand-Andely, which is the older part with the church, and Petit-Andely, which is closer to the Seine River.

Richard the Lionheart and Château Gaillard

The most famous part of Les Andelys's history involves Richard the Lionheart, who was King of England and Duke of Normandy. In the late 1100s, he decided to build a very strong castle here. This castle, called Château Gaillard, was built quickly between 1196 and 1198.

Why the Castle Was Built

Richard built Château Gaillard to protect Normandy from the French king, Philip Augustus. It was a very important fortress because it controlled the Seine River, which was a major route for travel and trade. The castle was known for being very strong and hard to attack.

The Castle's Fall

Even though it was strong, Château Gaillard was eventually captured by the French in 1204. This was a big moment in history because it helped the French king take control of Normandy from the English. Today, the castle is mostly in ruins, but it's still an amazing place to visit and learn about medieval times.

Other Historical Buildings

Besides the castle, Les Andelys also has a beautiful church called Our Lady's Church (Collégiale Notre-Dame des Andelys). This church has been built and changed over many centuries, showing different styles of architecture from the past.

Les Andelys Today

Today, Les Andelys is a peaceful town that attracts many visitors. People come to see the ruins of Château Gaillard and enjoy the lovely views of the Seine River and the surrounding countryside. It's a great place to learn about French history and enjoy nature.

Images for kids

  • Normandie Eure Andelys2 tango7174

    Panorama from the belvedere of Château Gaillard

  • Donjonvuegénérale

    Château Gaillard, Donjon

  • Andelys droit-flamboyant

    Our Lady's Church

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Les Andelys Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.