The Castle of the Dukes of Britanny (Nantes, France)
Almost nothing remains of the first fort built in the early 13th century, at the foot of the gallo-roman walls of the city. The actual castle was erected in the second half of the 15th century by the last duke of Britanny, François II, and his daughter - the famous Duchesse Anne, born in Nantes, who married two kings of France and fought all her life to preserve the independence of the duchy towards France.
Anne's daughter, Claude, wife of Francis I of France, inherited the castle in 1514 : new Renaissance style buildings were created at that time to put up the royal family. In 1670, a part of the castle burnt, and was rebuilt in classical style. At that time, the place was transformed it into army barracks and prison. An old song tells the story of a prisonner who escaped the place thanks to the naïve daughter of the jailer and swam away in the river Loire, which used to flow at the bottom of the walls...
Listed as monument historique in 1840, the castle was completely restored in the 1990's and is now a museum.
Inside the castle :
Ready for a long walk on the ramparts ?
The cathedral, viewed from the ramparts.
Last but not least, the duchess Anne, still watching over her castle.
Anne's daughter, Claude, wife of Francis I of France, inherited the castle in 1514 : new Renaissance style buildings were created at that time to put up the royal family. In 1670, a part of the castle burnt, and was rebuilt in classical style. At that time, the place was transformed it into army barracks and prison. An old song tells the story of a prisonner who escaped the place thanks to the naïve daughter of the jailer and swam away in the river Loire, which used to flow at the bottom of the walls...
Listed as monument historique in 1840, the castle was completely restored in the 1990's and is now a museum.
Inside the castle :
Ready for a long walk on the ramparts ?
The cathedral, viewed from the ramparts.
Last but not least, the duchess Anne, still watching over her castle.