UPDATED FEB 2020. In all honesty, though the castle of William the Conqueror is one of the big-name attractions of Falaise, I was actually visiting to see the statue of the Viking leader who became a Duke of Normandy, Rollo. I’m a big fan of the show Vikings and mostly wanted to see it because of that. I never would’ve guessed that while visiting his statue, I would also end up taking a journey back in time to walk through a magnificent castle and learn about such an interesting historical figure. Here’s my guide on how to visit the castle of William the Conqueror to help you plan your visit.
How To Visit The Castle Of William The Conqueror In France
FAQ for visiting the Castle of William the Conqueror
Where is it located?
Falaise, France.
How much does it cost to enter?
€8.50 per adult.
Who is it suited for?
History buffs, families, solo travelers, couples – pretty much everyone.
Are children allowed?
Yes, and children under 6 years old can enter for free.
Where to park
There is parking outside the castle walls, which are easy to see as you are driving in. You will see it listed in Google Maps as ‘Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant’.
I use Google Maps in offline mode for navigation when I am traveling – learn how to set that up here.
The drive took about an hour and a half from Bayeux which is where I was staying to also see the D-Day landing beaches.
How much does it cost
The entrance fee is €8.50 per adult.
They also offer guided tours so you can choose which suits your style better.
Once you enter the building, there is a gift shop, toilets, and an information desk where you can pay the entrance fee.
Travel tip: Get an iPad. When you get your ticket, you can also pick up an iPad for no extra charge. You just have to leave an ID that you get back once you return the iPad at the end.
Using the iPad, you can scan a code in each room to bring up more information about the room and also show a visual of what it would have previously looked like.
Where to find the statue of Rollo
The statue of Rollo stands out the front of the castle of William the Conqueror.
It is accompanied by statues of five other Dukes of Normandy who stand underneath a large statue of William the Conqueror on horseback.
What to expect at the castle of William the Conqueror
When you walk inside the large, defensive walls of the castle of William the Conqueror, you can watch a video that shows you how the areas would have looked in the past.
This is a good way to get an understanding of the space before walking the grounds because it looks much different now.
One feature I also liked is the 3D binoculars. These allow you to view the area in the way it would’ve looked in the past.
I liked this because sometimes it’s hard to imagine and picture things from just reading about them (or maybe that’s just my brain). Either way, it was a nice interactive touch.
There is a lot to see and you get to really explore a lot of the castle.
How to get around
You can walk through many rooms, climb up the steep spiral staircases, and end up on the roof before going back down.
The paths are guided with arrows that are easy to follow so there’s no risk of taking a wrong turn and getting lost in a dungeon.
The final room in the self-guided tour has a video that shows the story of William the Conqueror’s life complete with all the interesting details.
Can you believe he was originally named William the Bastard and became Duke of Normandy at the age of 7?
You can literally see the history etched in the walls. There are carvings from bored soldiers who would use the walls to carve games and drawings – perhaps the original Xbox.
There is even a castle toilet which is basically a hole on a ledge off the side of the castle wall. Apart from being glad I was born in a time where flush toilets exist, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to live there.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, it’s a great place to take kids.
Instead of an overwhelming amount of plaques to read, you can watch videos that are projected on to the walls. In these videos, a character shares more information about themselves and their history.
The videos are so well done that it made the stories come to life. If you are visiting with kids, I think they will enjoy the videos much more than reading plaques as well.
Where to eat nearby
I stopped for lunch at the nearby La Bonne Raison and it was delicious homemade food in a cute and quirky setting.
I tried the homemade pie of the day which was goats cheese and pear crumble and it was heavenly.
Other posts to help you plan a trip to France
For more information:
Visit the official website of the Chateau Guillaume le Conquerant.
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That castle is so cool! I love how you can borrow an iPad to learn more! The videos on the wall would way more interesting to me than just reading info. Ill have to save this for future trips!
Awesome! Just had a virtual tour of the castle with your post! Just made note of this place and your post as a must visit when I goto France!
And your tips for touring the castle and the places to stop by are so helpful. Saves substantial amount of time on the research required! Loved it!!
Normandy looks fabulous! The castle has so much stunning detail–you’ve given some great tips for exploring it!
J’aime la Normandie :-). This imposing medieval castle still dominates the town of Falaise (Falaise means cliff in French !). Did you have time to visit other places such as the amazing cliffs in Etretat or the beautiful city of Honfleur ?
Love this post. This castle looks amazing. I just wish that I had time to explore other parts of France besides Paris. This post inspires to head back. Thank you!!!
To be honest, I’ve never heard of William the Conquerer, but now I’m googling his name and trying to read about his story! I love visiting old castles and trying to imagine what life was like back then. The 3D binoculars seem so interesting because I also have a bit of a hard time imagining everything as it looked before when I’m looking at what it looks like now! I’ll definitely have to make a stop here in the future!
Virtual tour sounds cool! I love this post as this presents something more unique in France than Paris 🙂
How cool you can borrow an iPad to learn more!
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