Château des ducs de Bretagne
The Château des ducs de Bretagne stands in central Nantes, France. A fortress was first built here between 1207 and 1248 under Guy of Thouars, regent of the duchy, and largely rebuilt from 1466 by François II, the last independent Duke of Brittany. His daughter Anne of Brittany — the only woman to have been queen of France twice — married both Charles VIII in 1491 and Louis XII in 1499, sealing the duchy's union with France.
The castle later served as royal residence, state prison, and military arsenal. In 1800 a decayed ceiling collapsed onto a powder store, killing roughly 60 people. Restored between the 1990s and 2007, it now houses the Nantes History Museum across 32 rooms; visitors can walk a 500-metre circuit along the ramparts.
Visitor information
- Location
- France
- Country
- France
- Tier
- B (Great castles)
- Coordinates
- 47.2161, -1.5491
- Official site
- http://www.chateaunantes.fr
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château des ducs de Bretagne?
- Château des ducs de Bretagne is in France, France (approximately 47.2161, -1.5491).
- Can you visit Château des ducs de Bretagne?
- Yes — Château des ducs de Bretagne is open to visitors; see the official site at http://www.chateaunantes.fr for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Château des ducs de Bretagne on the Castle Atlas?
- Château des ducs de Bretagne is rated B tier on the Castle Atlas — Great castles.
- What can you see at Château des ducs de Bretagne?
- The Château des ducs de Bretagne stands in central Nantes, France. A fortress was first built here between 1207 and 1248 under Guy of Thouars, regent of the duchy, and largely rebuilt from 1466 by François II, the last independent Duke of Brittany. His daughter Anne of Brittany — the only woman to have been queen of France twice — married both Charles VIII in 1491 and Louis XII in 1499, sealing the duchy's union with France.