Villeneuve Keep

The Villeneuve Keep, locally known as Donjon de Philippe Auguste or simply as the Grosse Tour, lies in the town of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne in the Yonne department in France.

The riverside town of Villeneuve (meaning New Town) was founded in 1152 by Louis VII of France, and, from 1163 on, provided with fortifications. It was then known as Villeneuve-le Roi. (meaning New Town of the King). Louis' son and successor, Philip II of France, had the Villeneuve Keep built from 1205 to 1211.

Some sources state that the keep was part of the disappeared castle of Salles. It is, however, more probable that it was a stand-alone keep, adjacent to but separate from the ramparts of the town. The supposed 'castle' probably consisted mostly of wooden buildings, situated within the ramparts, which were used as royal apartments whenever the sovereign was in town.

The Villeneuve Keep is a typical example of a type of military architecture, which in France is called Philippian architecture. The keep is thus modelled on the former keep of the medieval Louvre Castle in Paris. It has a circular shape and a wall thickness of around 4 meters.

During the 17th century, the keep fell into disuse and was abandoned. At the end of the 18th century, during the French Revolution, the keep lost its top floor, so that only 2 floors remained. Also, the affix of the town's name changed, from '-le-Roi', to '-sur-Yonne'.

Up until the 19th century, the ramparts of the town survived. Now only 2 gates and 2 towers remain; the Joigny Gate in the south, the Sense Gate in the north, the Bonneville Tower at the river front and a nameless wall tower.

The Villeneuve Keep can freely be visited, although only externally. It is now situated in a park-like pedestrian boulevard that follows the trace of the former town ramparts. A nice keep in a quaint town.

Gallery

Remains of the town's fortifications