Summary For a ruler living in a castle a certain level of opulence was required. And that opulence wasn't just for the ruler's own comfort. He needed to impress, engage and entertain other rulers as well as his own vassals. The opulence reached it's peak in the Loire Valley when the English drove the French from Normandy. There, relieved of the need for fortifications, the castles' opulence transformed into palaces and chateaus of grandeur. Curiously, the castle style returned to vogue during the industrial revolution as some wealthy industrialists built palaces to flaunt their riches.

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