The Fort of Coudray archaeological excavations

From September 1 to October 10, 2026, archaeologists from SADIL (the Archaeological Service of the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council) will resume excavations at Ford du Coudray.

Since 2024, excavation campaigns conducted every September have been gradually revealing the history of this area, which was occupied from the 10th to the 15th
centuries. This research is part of the site’s eventful history: a fortress of the Counts of Blois and later the Counts of Anjou beginning in the 11th century, and a center of Plantagenet power under Henry II. It was transformed by Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, recaptured by Philip Augustus in 1205, and later served as a royal residence under Charles VII before becoming, in the 19th century, a restored monument open to the public.

Excavations in previous years have revealed a high density of buildings that succeeded one another within this confined space. This latest campaign aims to provide a better understanding of how this part of the site has evolved over the centuries.