From the first wooden fortresses of the 9th century, to Philippe Auguste’s construction of castles with standardized plans in the 12th and 13th centuries, this episode explores three centuries of architectural challenges and innovation. The structures that were built during this period shaped the vast territory that would eventually become France.

The documentary "Fortified Castes: The Rise and Fall" details the evolution of the defensive systems that the castles acquired in the 14th century. With the invention of powder and cannons, how were these majestic buildings able to maintain themselves in the French landscape?