First wood castles, in XIe century, the seat of Gaillard Castle in 1204, one discovers there the first Norman keeps and stone plantagenets - Ivry-la-Bataille, Loches, Arques, Falaise, Chambois - but also French - Houdan, Estampes, Provins, la Roche-Guyon, as well as the site perigourdin of Commarque.

The text of Viollet le Duc is accompanied by its splendid illustrations and enriched by photographs current colors. It is also presented the military equipment of time. A teaching document, all public, rich of information.