A study day was held recently at the Villers-Cotterêts castle, a historic site that originally belonged to Philippe d'Alsace and later to François d'Angoulême between the 12th and 15th centuries. The event was organized by the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), the International City of the French Language, and the National Monuments Center (CMN). Archaeologists from Inrap worked alongside the CMN during the castle's renovation, which was carried out to prepare the site for the International City of the French Language. After three years of excavations and analysis of the building, from May 2020 to March 2023, followed by two years of data review, the findings are now considered to be of exceptional quality. The study days, which began in 2024, have focused on different periods of the castle’s history, including the Renaissance home planned by François I in the early 16th century and the modifications made by the dukes of Orléans in the second half of the 17th century. The sessions also explored how the castle was transformed into a poorhouse at the start of the 19th century and examined the living conditions of its residents using archaeological data. The upcoming third day of the study will focus on the Middle Ages and the major phases of the fortress’s evolution, along with environmental research findings. The event started at 9 a.m. with a welcome for participants, followed by a general introduction at 9:30 a.m. At 9:45 a.m., an overview of what is known about the castle during the Middle Ages was presented. Bénédicte Guillot from Inrap, Craham, along with Christine Cercy from Inrap, led a session on the castle of Philippe d'Alsace. A break was scheduled at 10:35 a.m. Lucie Amami and Jérémy Leclerc from Inrap discussed the new castle built in the 13th century. Bénédicte Guillot, Jérémy Leclerc, and Louis Pirat from Inrap presented the residence of the 14th and 15th centuries. A discussion followed at noon, after which participants had a free meal at 12:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., a session on furniture as a witness to the castle's occupants was presented by Aurélie Raffin from the Maine-et-Loire department, CreAAH, along with Stéphanie Wicha and Solène Laëthier from Inrap. Opale Robin from Inrap, BioArch, and Philippe Pauthier from Inrap discussed the animals that lived in the castle. A break was scheduled at 3:10 p.m. Benjamin Dufour from the University of Franche-Comté presented a session on the relationship between humans and animals in the context of parasites. Muriel Boulen from Inrap, CreAAH, and Marie Derreumaux from Cravo discussed the landscape in the 15th century. A discussion followed at 4:40 p.m. The conference When you will have 900 years. The castle of Villers-Cotterêts from the 12th to the 21st century was presented by Bénédicte Guillot from Inrap, Craham, and Jérémy Leclerc from Inrap. The event took place at 1, place Aristide Briand - 02600 Villers-Cotterêts.