Creully Castle

Creully Castle or the Château de Creully is an 11th-century castle in Normandy which has been modified throughout its history. The castle’s notable features include fine vaulted rooms, a square tower from the 14th century, a high octagonal tower from the 15th century and a Renaissance turret.

Creully Castle history

Around 1050, Cruelly Castle did not resemble a defensive fortress but a large agricultural domain. In about 1360, during the Hundred Years’ War, it was modified into a fortress with an imposing square tower. During this period, its architecture was demolished and reconstructed with each occupation by the English and the French. With the end of the war ownership of the castle returned to baron de Creully.

Twenty two barons of the same family had succeeded to the castle between 1035 and 1682. In 1682, the last baron of Creully, Antoine V de Sillans, heavily indebted, sold the castle to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of Louis XIV, who died the following year without living there. Descendants of Colbert occupied Creully until the French Revolution in 1789, when it was confiscated.

From June 7 1944, the day after D-Day, the square fortress housed the BBC’s war correspondents and their studio, who transmitted news of the Battle of Normandy.

Creully Castle today

The castle’s large halls are used today for various events, including weddings, concerts, exhibitions and conferences. You can take a guided historic tour of the castle and grounds, in either French or English, which takes about 45 minutes and includes the BBC news room which still contains artefacts that bring the wartime back to life.

There are also beautiful picnic areas for you to stop and have a bite at the end of your visit. Afterwards, why not visit nearby Bayeux, Arromanches and other sites of the D-Day landings?

Getting to Creully Castle

Open between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Creully Castle is easily reached along the Normandy coast off the D22 and in Cruelly’s town centre. The N13 motorway links the town to Bayeux and Caen, from which there are great train links to Paris and Le Havre.