En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château of the Dukes of Brittany is a defensive and residential castle located in Nantes, in the Loire-Atlantique department of France. Listed as a monument historique since 1840, it was mainly built in the 15th century but also includes elements dating from the 14th to the 18th century.
Founded by Guy de Thouars in the 13th century to serve as a defensive stronghold in Nantes, the château became, under François II, the principal ducal residence of Brittany. Its military function was also used by the duke during the Guerre folle, during which he opposed the King of France. His daughter, Duchess Anne, was later forced to marry two successive kings of France, Charles VIII and Louis XII. These marriages led to the union of Brittany with France, definitively sealed by an edict signed at the château in 1532 by François I. From then on, the château lost its status as a ducal residence and became a royal fortress. It hosted most of the kings of France when they visited Brittany, and it was the official residence of the governors of the province. However, the governors' stays were generally brief, with the notable exception of the Duke of Mercœur, a governor who held a court there during the Wars of Religion.
Under the Ancien Régime, the château also served as a state prison and, above all, as a barracks and military arsenal. It suffered no damage during the Revolution, but the explosion of its gunpowder stores in 1800 destroyed a large part of the monument. In the 19th century, the château retained its military function, but its heritage interest was gradually recognised and some restorations were undertaken. Owned by the city of Nantes from 1915, it became a museum in 1924. From 1990 to 2007 it underwent a large-scale renovation, and since 2007 it has housed the Musée d'Histoire de Nantes.
