Falaise: William the Conqueror's Birthplace, Arlette's Fountain and the Civilians' Memorial
Normandy, France
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Conqueror's Keep
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225
XP
+100 France
= 325 total
1 day
Falaise: William the Conqueror's Birthplace, Arlette's Fountain and the Civilians' Memorial
225 + 100 XP
At Falaise the castle where William the Conqueror was born in 1027 or 1028 keeps the great square keep Henry I raised about 1123-1125, the small keep beside it and the round Tour Talbot Philippe Auguste added in 1207. Below the walls the Fontaine d'Arlette carries the story of William's mother Herleva, and in the town the Memorial de Falaise - Les Civils dans la Guerre, opened on 8 May 2016, tells how civilians lived through the Second World War.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Climb the great square keep at Falaise, built about 1123-1125, and on its upper floor find the room in the north-east corner still called the chambre d'Arlette although the name is wrong, and the two-storey chapel dedicated to saint Prix built into the south-east wall
2
of 4
Walk round to the Tour Talbot, the round tower Philippe Auguste built in 1207, 15 m across and 30 m high with walls 4 m thick, and compare its blank defensive face with the windowed petit donjon it is joined to
3
of 4
Walk down to the Fontaine d'Arlette below the castle and look back up at the walls from it: the town's story is that Duke Robert first saw Herleva, William's mother, from up there, dancing or washing skins in the water
4
of 4
In the Memorial de Falaise - Les Civils dans la Guerre, opened on 8 May 2016 in the town the fighting of 1944 flattened, work through the reconstructed streets and pick out what an occupied household had to do differently each day
Climb the great square keep at Falaise, built about 1123-1125, and on its upper floor find the room in the north-east corner still called the chambre d'Arlette although the name is wrong, and the two-storey chapel dedicated to saint Prix built into the south-east wall
Walk round to the Tour Talbot, the round tower Philippe Auguste built in 1207, 15 m across and 30 m high with walls 4 m thick, and compare its blank defensive face with the windowed petit donjon it is joined to
Walk down to the Fontaine d'Arlette below the castle and look back up at the walls from it: the town's story is that Duke Robert first saw Herleva, William's mother, from up there, dancing or washing skins in the water
In the Memorial de Falaise - Les Civils dans la Guerre, opened on 8 May 2016 in the town the fighting of 1944 flattened, work through the reconstructed streets and pick out what an occupied household had to do differently each day
Before you go
The Chateau Guillaume-le-Conquerant opens Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays; last admission is an hour before closing.
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About Normandy
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
325 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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