Height and size of the Coucy donjon

The donjon of Coucy, located in the Aisne region of France, measured 54 meters in height and 31.25 meters in diameter. Before 1917, it was considered the largest donjon in Europe, a type of fortified tower common in medieval castles.

Destruction by the German army

On March 27, 1917, the German army destroyed the donjon using 28,000 kg of explosives. The stones of the donjon remain in place, forming a compact pile, while the surrounding area suffered extensive damage.

Comparison with the Louvre donjon

The Coucy donjon was 20 meters taller than the medieval donjon of the Louvre, which reached approximately 34 meters in height. The base of the Coucy donjon was wider than a tennis court, while the Louvre's donjon had a diameter of about fifteen meters.

Construction and durability

Built in the 1220s under Enguerrand III, lord of Coucy, the structure had survived nearly seven centuries before World War I. It had previously suffered an attempt at destruction in 1652, when explosives were used to blow up parts of the donjon, but it retained only three cracks after that event.

Preservation efforts in the 19th century

In the 19th century, the state became the owner of the castle in 1856 and commissioned the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to save the ruins. The donjon was then secured with two iron rings placed at the level of the corbels and covered with a roof.

Rebuilding and occupation

The monument was nearly entirely rebuilt in the style of Pierrefonds, a preference of Napoleon III. The German army occupied the castle since 1914, using it as a headquarters for the general staff, and Emperor William II visited it twice.

Reasons for the 1917 destruction

The reasons for the destruction of the donjon remain debated. Some suggest it was due to its strategic location near the French front, while others claim it was ordered by General Erich Ludendorff without a clear military purpose.

Aftermath and preservation

The indignation over the destruction was such that in April 1917, the ruins were declared a memorial of barbarity. The government chose to preserve them as a memory of wartime destructions. In 1923, war damages funded the clearing of the towers and the consolidation of the walls, but the donjon itself was left untouched.

Visual contrast before and after

Photographs from before 1917 show a massive cylinder dominating the valley, while those after show a pile of stones in its place. Comparing the two images illustrates the impact of 28 tons of explosives on 54 meters of masonry.

Present-day condition

Today, the stones of the donjon form a compact pile on site. Among them, one can distinguish the large iron bars that surrounded it, which are likely the remains of the two rings placed in the 19th century. The blocks were never removed, and the site is visitable, though visitors should check hours and prices in advance.

Historical use of the stones

The stones of Coucy were not the first to be used for other purposes. After the French Revolution, the castle was sold and turned into a quarry, then sold in 1829 to the Duke of Orléans for 6,000 francs.