Archaeological excavations and restoration of the north wing of Creil’s medieval castle, in the Oise department
Creil: 14th-century pottery resurfaces beneath the medieval castle
Excavations ahead of the restoration of Creil Castle have uncovered 14th-century pottery fragments and previously unknown medieval masonry on Île Saint-Maurice. A public presentation was held on 20 September 2026.
Editorial journal · Carte des Châteaux ·
Beneath the foundations of the north wing of Creil Castle, archaeologists have uncovered what seven centuries had buried: fragments of 14th-century pottery and medieval masonry elements previously unknown. These discoveries, made during a consolidation project led by the town on Île Saint-Maurice, were presented to the public on Sunday, 20 September 2026, as part of European Heritage Days, at the nearby Gallé-Juillet Museum.
The Creil site exemplifies a now-common approach to French medieval monuments: carrying out a preventive excavation before any consolidation work, to avoid erasing what layers of infill had inadvertently protected.
Next steps
The town of Creil intends, in the long term, to open the castle to visitors, with exhibitions dedicated to the history of the area. Work to consolidate the vaults and roof will continue in the months following this presentation, though no completion date has been announced at this stage.
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