The Tour Grise is an imposing 13th-century medieval keep standing 45 meters tall, built in 1204 by King Philip II Augustus immediately after conquering Normandy from the English. Named after the distinctive grey-brown 'grison' stone - an alloy of flint and iron ore - the tower features massive 4-meter thick walls and a compact 9-meter interior diameter. As the last surviving structure of Verneuil's medieval castle complex, it now houses the 'Treasures of the Forgotten Battle' exhibition commemorating the bloody 1424 Battle of Verneuil during the Hundred Years' War.

Grey Tower — Planning Your Visit

Opening Hours

MondayClosed

TuesdayClosed

Wednesday14:00 - 18:00

Thursday14:00 - 18:00

Friday14:00 - 18:00

Saturday10:30 - 12:00, 14:00 - 18:00

Sunday14:00 - 18:00

Ticket Prices

General Admission

Recommended

€4

Escape Game

Available July-September. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 18:00. Duration: 1h15min. For 2-6 players. Reservation required.

€60

In 1889, entrepreneur Léon Duval-Lampérière purchased the tower and transformed it into an eccentric hotel-restaurant, adding bizarre decorations including fake fireplaces, statues, inscriptions, and a central spire on top. These 'fantaisiste' additions so defaced the historic monument that it lost its protected status in 1892. After the city acquired the tower around 1950, French heritage authorities spent years removing these Victorian-era embellishments to restore its authentic medieval appearance.