In the footsteps of Gautier Giffard, companion of William the Conqueror.

The role of Gautier Giffard in the Battle of Hastings

This excursion offers to follow in the footsteps of Gautier Giffard, a loyal vassal of Duke William, guided by a booklet dedicated to the history of his family, which serves as the true thread of the day.

The route leads to two major sites: the castles of Arques-la-Bataille and Longueville-sur-Scie, linked to Guillaume d'Arques, uncle of Duke William, and Gautier Giffard, Count of Bolbec. In 1053, the two men find themselves opposed when Duke William entrusts Gautier Giffard with the blockade of the castle of Arques, while Guillaume d'Arques supports King Henry I of France.
At the end of this episode, Gautier Giffard, victorious, receives the lands of Longueville and becomes its lord. He constructs a castle there on an ancient Roman castrum. After participating in the Battle of Hastings, William of Normandy also grants him the feudal barony of Long Crendon, composed of lands and castles located in Buckinghamshire, the origins of Buckinghamshire County.

Organized by the Friends of Old Fécamp and the Pays de Caux association, this one-day trip departing from Fécamp by coach includes guided tours of the ruins of the castle of Arques and the remains of the one in Longueville-sur-Scie, as well as lunch at a restaurant, combining historical discovery and conviviality.

Practical information:
Paid, by registration