Château de Coucy

Château de Coucy
Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, Picardy, France
Château of Coucy, from across the Ailette valley, comparison between 2007 and 1909
Site information
TypeMedieval castle
Controlled byFrench ministry of culture
Websitewww.chateau-coucy.fr/en
Location
Château de Coucy
Coordinates49°31′18″N 3°19′07″E / 49.521667°N 3.318611°E / 49.521667; 3.318611
Height20 meters
Site history
Builtc.1220s
Built byEnguerrand III, Lord of Coucy
In usefortress
Materialsstone
Demolished1917 by Germans in World War I
Battles/warsthe Battle of Bouvines.
EventsCoucy a la merveille
Garrison information
OccupantsLords of Coucy

The Château de Coucy (Picard: Câtiau Couchy) is a French castle in the commune of Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, in Picardy, built in the 13th century and renovated by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. During its heyday, it was famous for the size of its central tower and the pride of its lords, who adopted the staunchly independent rhyme: roi ne suis, ne prince ne duc ne comte aussi; Je suis le sire de Coucy ("I am not king, nor prince nor duke nor count; I am the Lord of Coucy").