Publisher's Synopsis
Castle at Falaise.Present ruins of the castle.Athough Rouen is now very far before all the other cities of Normandy in point of magnitude andimportance, and though Rollo, in his conquest of the country, made it his principal head-quartersand his main stronghold, it did not continue exclusively the residence of the dukes of Normandy inafter years. The father of William the Conqueror was Robert, who became subsequently the duke, the sixth in the line. He resided, at the time when William was born, in a great castle at Falaise.Falaise, as will be seen upon the map, is west of Rouen, and it stands, like Rouen, at some distancefrom the sea. The castle was built upon a hill, at a little distance from the town. It has long sinceceased to be habitable, but the ruins still remain, giving a picturesque but mournful beauty to theeminence which they crown. They are often visited by travelers, who go to see the place where thegreat hero and conqueror was born.Scenery of the town and castle.Wall and buildings.Watch-towers.Sentinels.Enchanting prospect.The hill on which the old castle stands terminates, on one side, at the foot of the castle walls, in aprecipice of rocks, and on two other sides, also, the ascent is too steep to be practicable for anenemy. On the fourth side there is a more gradual declivity, up which the fortress could beapproached by means of a winding roadway. At the foot of this roadway was the town. The accessto the castle from the town was defended by a ditch and draw-bridge, with strong towers on eachside of the gateway to defend the approach. There was a beautiful stream of water which meanderedalong through the valley, near the town, and, after passing it, it disappeared, winding around the footof the precipice which the castle crowned. The castle inclosures were shut in with walls of stone ofenormous thickness; so thick, in fact, they were, that some of the apartments were built in the bodyof the wall. There were various buildings within the inclosure. There was, in particular, one large, square tower, several stories in height, built of white stone. This tower, it is said, still stands in goodpreservatio
