Just north of Paris, there’s a castle perched on a large bend of the Seine River, overlooking the dramatic chalk cliffs formed by the river. This is La Roche Guyon, a historical site that started as cave dwellings carved into rock and evolved through centuries of conflict and revolution. It even served as a barracks during the Nazi occupation and is now a museum.

The castle’s strategic location atop the white cliffs of the Seine allowed complete control over the entire valley below. Originally built around the year 1000, the castle served as a garrison to halt Viking invasions into French territory. About 200 years later, a large circular tower was added, which still stands today. During World War II, under the command of Rommel, Nazi soldiers chose this castle as a base, digging into the cliffs to create casemates for storing arms and ammunition.

La Roche Guyon Castle is open from 10 am to 5:45 pm, but on weekends, it remains open until 6:45 pm. On Saturday, September 7, there will be a night visit starting at 8:30 pm. The entrance ticket costs €7.80.