Journey Château Ganne, during the time of the Knigths

Chateau ganne arnaud poirier 12 1

Start: Parking of the Château Ganne site - 14690 La Pommeraye

Throughout the journey, you will find 10 stops. During your stroll, characters straight from the Middle Ages await you, including the famous witch of Château Ganne! Get ready to travel through the ages and learn more about this iconic medieval site in Suisse Normande!

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We wish you a pleasant visit!

Let's talk about Château Ganne, in the time of knights. This route has 10 stops, each marked by the sound of a bell signaling the beginning of each commentary. Welcome to Château Ganne! Whether you're with family or friends, you're about to embark on a one-hour walk at your own pace, so let yourself be guided. As you enter the woods, go straight to the intersection and take the path on your left, the Witches' Path. You are entering the natural and historical space of Château Ganne. Be cautious; it's a magical place where history with a capital 'H' and legend with a capital 'L' are closely intertwined. But shh, I hear voices—no, a voice. I recognize it; it's Sarah Ganne, the witch of Château Ganne. But where did my grimoire go? Ah, there it is. For this witches' elixir recipe, I need, let me see, 10 slimy toad tongues, 3 sheep's eyes, a whisker from a black cat's mustache, 2 cups of water from the Martray stream, fern roots, and a raven's feather. Dear little visitor, climb this path, but beware! You'll encounter some strange creatures; they constantly came to destroy my hut and garden, so I turned them into statues, hahahaha! When you reach the top of the path, you'll see two soldiers from Count Ganne's guard, petrified in cedarwood! Yes, it was me who turned them into statues; they were naughty! And they deserved a spell. Hahahaha! Now, approach the drawbridge and head towards the soldier on the far right, place your hand on the handle of his axe, and now, close your eyes. Did you hear that noise? You've just leaped into history; you're now in the Middle Ages! Listen, what just happened? Who is the man approaching us?
Come closer, young one, lower the drawbridge, and join me under the grand porch. I am Raoul de la Pommeraye, a companion of William of Normandy, the King of England. I actually fought alongside him at the Battle of Hastings. My family has owned the Pommeraye estate for a very long time, and I built this fortress in the 11th century on top of a rocky crest overlooking the Orne Valley. My grandson, Henry, is a powerful lord. He beautified the family castle and reinforced its walls to protect against enemies. One must showcase one's power, and our castle is the proof. Ah! I must leave; I need to prepare for tonight's banquet. Raoul has just left; let me explain. As he said, Château Ganne is imposing and visible from afar. From the surrounding valleys, this courtyard where you currently stand is 65 meters long and 45 meters wide. The main keep, of which you can still see the ruins, is 15 meters high, as tall as a 3-story building. Around the castle, you can still see traces of a deep moat preventing enemy access. And there, at the top left and right of the porch, you see those steel walls representing the old curtain wall or battlements, where soldiers keep watch over the fortress. Let's head towards the first buildings by crossing the main courtyard. Here is a real village with a bakery, a cellar, a chapel, a kitchen, and a large reception hall where the lord sometimes administers justice. Specifically, let's approach this large hall located to your left as you enter the site. This hall was called the aula.
Tonight, there is a celebration at my lord's residence in Pommeraye. A grand banquet gathers the Norman lords, and what beautiful ladies! An immense table is set in the middle of the room. The meal? In our time, it can last for hours. The festive menu includes wines and skewers of dried fruits, pumpkin soup with almond milk, roasted onion salads, pies, lamb leg pies, roasted suckling goat with golden sauce, pork in red wine, sautéed spiced mushrooms, saffron lentil puree, almond milk apple mousse, tarts, wine-poached pears, candied oranges, and spiced wine (hypocras). One must have an appetite. Now, continue the tour along the building. Do you see that big tree to your left? Here at Château Ganne, trees are abundant. Yes, you should know that in the 19th century, numerous tree species were planted to transform the site into a romantic garden.
Ah, greetings my friend! I am Tibald, one of the masons of the castle. Do you see these stones that make up the old chimney flue? The stones are laid in a peculiar way, don't you think? What does it remind you of? Come on, give it a little thought. You can find these in the sea or in the river. Yes, fish! We call this construction method 'fishbone,' where flat stones are arranged in a slanted manner, changing direction with each layer, creating this appearance. This building technique prevents the risk of cracks due to the heat of the fireplace and ensures the strength of the wall. Now, continue your exploration to discover a new rectangular grassy area on your left. It is overlooked by two rows of walls in the background; this is the terrace. Look, here comes Tibald joining us.
Ah, the terrace! We worked a lot in this part of the building. Even today, you can see the openings in the walls. These are windows; their frames are narrow on the outside but wide on the inside of the building, we call them beveled. This design allows the lord to protect himself from the cold while enjoying the daylight. From the top of this terrace, the castle guards overlook the valley, easily spotting approaching enemy troops. It's getting late, and I'm starting to get hungry, aren't you? Move closer to the square building, right near the terrace – those are the kitchens. The lord and his guests might have left us some leftovers from the banquet.
Yes, as the steel figures indicate, this is the castle kitchen. In the Middle Ages, cooking was done over an open flame, and great care was taken in the process. They roasted, grilled, stewed, fried – mastering baking and using a water bath. At the center of the kitchen is the hearth, a large fire that allows for cooking various foods. Towards the back of the building, you can also see the remains of a stone sink equipped with a drain, designed to carry dirty water outside. The uniqueness of medieval cooking is its dual, and sometimes triple, method depending on the nature of the food. Three flavors are always present in medieval cuisine: the strong, linked to spices; the sweet, achieved with dried fruits, honey, or sugar; and the acidic, dominating all recipes with vinegar, verjuice, sorrel, lemon, currants, and green apple. And, we have apples at Château Ganne.
Hey you there! Listen to me, I heard that the witch is approaching the castle. I don't want to end up turned into a wooden or stone statue, so do as I do and come seek refuge under the great tower-gate. Cross the tower-gate, this kind of keep that is in front of you, at the back, and join the guard Romuald, he will know how to protect you. I'm Romuald, one of the guards of the castle. Here you are in the tower-gate, the main tower of the castle, one of the oldest and most imposing parts. This tower was tall, we accessed the floors through the hoardings, do you know what that is, little one? Well, I'll explain. The hoarding allows us to defend the castle; it's a covered wooden balcony placed against the tower, extending well outward. From up there, we can easily repel our enemies because the walls are pierced with small traps that allow us to observe the base of the wall but also to drop projectiles on the attackers. Aha, we are well organized, you see? Now, go ahead and make your way to the end of the tower; you'll discover what we call the upper courtyard, and there, the witch won't be able to find you.
Hihihi, hello little visitor! I'm the fairy Mélisandre. I often come here with my fairy friends; we love to twirl through the tree branches. You know, it's only here that I find the rare plants that allow me to concoct my fairy dust, the one that helps me fly and become invisible to the evil witch Sarah Ganne. Just her name makes me shudder. So, you're strolling around. If you want, I can explain what this place called the upper courtyard is for. You see, not everyone can enter; a wide 6-meter-deep ditch prevents access. But luckily, I can fly. Here is the best-protected part of the castle; the lord can take refuge here in case of an attack. However, attacks are rare; the lord mainly wants to show his power by building a very tall keep that can be seen from afar. Alright, I'm going back to my gathering. You can continue your way; I'll divert the attention of the witch at the passage, this way, she won't bother you.
Go back the way you came, cross the tower, and enter the first building on your left. It's the chapel. It was once covered in mural paintings, and its small windows were adorned with stained glass. The outer wall facing the valley was also covered in paint to be seen from afar. You can still see the base of the altar, that stone table in front of you.
Walk along the chapel to discover the next building on the left. It's the domestic building. In the Middle Ages, castles were designed to be entirely self-sufficient in case of war. So, they house premises that can be used for all trades and tasks. I can see the blacksmith Paulin and his friend Raigné the baker. I am Paulin the blacksmith; I handle the maintenance work of the castle. My workshop is called the forge. I work with an anvil and a hammer to shape pieces of metal after heating them. I make objects by dipping the iron in the fire to soften it, then hammering it to give it a shape. The residents often come to me to make or repair tools. Hey, friend! You're not the only one working hard. I'm Raigné, the baker, and it's not easy either. If you look closely, at the back of the building, you can still see the trace of my bread oven. I baked all sorts of things there—bread, pies, pastries that the lord serves during banquets or to feed the peasants who come to the castle. In the Middle Ages, the baking of bread dough had to be done in the communal oven built by the lord of the place; it was mandatory. You had to give money to the lord to use it. The oven supervisor, the "fournier," also paid himself by taking a portion of the baked bread, and families baked a large quantity of bread at once. The bread was then placed in chests or hung so that greedy mice wouldn't attack it. After a few days, the bread became stale, but people still ate it to dip in soup. Usually, the father cut the bread and distributed it to everyone sitting around the table. The visit is coming to an end, I hope you now understand a bit better the organization of this ancient medieval fortress. Know that every two years, at the beginning of summer, a big festival takes place here: the Medieval Festival of Château Ganne. Don't hesitate to visit us during the next festival. You'll encounter the characters who guided you during the visit, as well as the witch Sarah Ganne and the beautiful Melia the blonde. They wouldn't miss this festival for anything in the world. You can also find knights in their camp, troubadours, a large market, and beautiful shows. See you soon, friend.