Château des ducs de Bretagne

The origins of the castle date back to 1207, when Guy de Thouars began constructing an initial fortification to demonstrate the power of the dukes. Under Pierre Mauclerc and his son Jean I, both the castle and the city's defenses were strengthened. In the 14th century, Jean IV expanded the complex, with the polygonal Old Donjon remaining as the only part of the original castle. From 1466, François II had a new castle built, intended to serve both as a ducal residence and a fortress against royal power. His daughter Anne de Bretagne, later Queen of France, continued the construction work and particularly reinforced the river side with an artillery bastion. In the 16th century, after the marriage of Claude de France to King Francis I, the castle was expanded with a Renaissance wing. With the unification of Brittany with France in 1532, the complex became royal property and served as a residence for French kings. Nevertheless, the defenses were further expanded under Philippe-Emmanuel de Lorraine. A fire in 1670 led to the reconstruction of a wing in the classical Baroque style. In the 18th century, the castle was used as an arsenal and prison. An explosion in 1800 destroyed parts of the complex. In 1840, it was declared a Monument historique and sold to the city of Nantes in 1915. After a closure in 1970, an extensive restoration program began in the 1990s, leading to its reopening in 2007.

The Château des ducs de Bretagne is located in Nantes, in the Loire-Atlantique department, in the Pays de la Loire region of France. It stands at an elevation of approximately 13 meters above sea level.

Today, the historic castle complex can be visited, offering visitors insights into its rich past and architecture.

• Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Nantes (sacred building), approx. 0.2 km away
• Château du Grand-Blottereau (castle), approx. 3.1 km away
• Château du Tertre (castle), approx. 3.4 km away
• Château de Bois-Briand (castle), approx. 5.5 km away