Rating: 8,0/10 (651 votes) Castle of the Dukes of Brittany – the historic center of Brittany, located on the right bank of the Loire. In XIII – In the 16th century it was the official residence of the dukes of Brittany, and after Brittany was annexed to the French crown, it became a royal residence. The castle is considered one of the most famous landmarks in France. Buildings of white sandstone, halls decorated in the Renaissance style, a statue of Mars by the famous master Cellini made this castle a historical heritage of the Duchy of Breton. Francis II fortified the outer walls of the residence in 1466. Francis II contributed a lot to the development of the castle. He invited the then famous architect Matelin Rodier, who began to build the towers of the new bastion. However, the final look was determined by another builder – Janet Perreale. He finished the erection of the towers and walls. Perreal. Under him, the plan of the fortress was formed, the erection of walls and towers was completed. The towers received the following names:"River","Horseshoe","Jacobins","Spanish" ("Spanish" does not exist now). Inside the walls – several buildings. Some have been destroyed over the centuries. Of the rest -"Grand Lodge" and"Grand Guverneman". The courtyard of the castle is decorated in the Renaissance style. In the courtyard, a well, decorated with the heraldic symbols of the dukes, has survived to this day. In 1598, Henry IV arrived in the city to sign the Edict of Nantes and stayed at the castle. During the revolution, the castle housed a prison and a military arsenal. In 1880, as a result of the catastrophe, part of the buildings was destroyed by an explosion. Since 1862, the castle of the Dukes of Breton has been recognized as a historical monument. Since the 1990s, extensive restoration and renovation work has been carried out. They want to return the castle to its former glory as a historical symbol of Brittany. In 2007, the castle was opened to the public and became a popular tourist attraction. The restored building today houses the Museum of the History of Nantes. It has 32 rooms, 850 various exhibits that tell about the history of the duchy. From the castle walls you can see all the buildings and the city. And at night the castle is a stunning sight: the castle illumination is impressive. We also recommend reading Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria Topic: Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in France, Loire Valley resort. |