Again, looking at my vault of pictures and my posts, realise have several not included in the first post on the Château des Ducs de Bretagne! Pity, they should be in my blog. Therefore, this is a new text using older pictures new to my blog. Let me tell you a bit more about the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes !
Nantes is a unique place that is a must if only one this is it .It has been always my question coming to visit the city to asked why the dukes of Brittany/Bretagne have a castle in Nantes which is Loire Atlantique dept 44 of the Pays de la Loire region? I will answer this below in my amateur historical opinion.
Wait a minute! I have been telling you Nantes is not in Brittany but in Pays de la Loire region? yes officially indeed. This is an issue locally and many Bretons still considered it part of their region not just the castle but most of the Loire Atlantique dept 44 if not all. Historically, it was until the French revolution, what else! There are historical quarrels that it was Marshal Pétain in 1941 who signed the order for the split and other that it was President René Coty in 1961 on a wish from the central government, but anyway nowadays they have been able to put the Breton flag on the pole in the city hall of Nantes and there are petitions for the annexation back into Brittany. This is the issue of long running , to be continue.
The Château des Ducs de Bretagne is an architectural ensemble, consisting of a 15C rampart and various buildings built from the 14C to the 18C after being ducal residence under Duke Francis II and Duchess Anne, the castle became a Royal fortress, seat of the governor of Nantes and Royal prison, then barracks from the 18C. It was owned by the city of Nantes from 1915, the castle has been used for tourist and museum use since 1924 . As a result of the transformation of the urban community into Metropolis, the castle becomes a metropolitan property in 2015. The official Métropole Nantes: https://metropole.nantes.fr/territoire-institutions/nantes-metropole/communes/nantes
Briefly as an introduction to the older pictures new in my blog,
The main entrance to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne is on Place Marc-Elder, there are two gates protected by tilting drawbridges ,The castle is also made up of two towers, the tour du Pied-de-Biche and the tour de la Boulangerie. They date from the origin of the castle, in 1466. It is also possible to discover the tower of the Jacobins, the latter has the particularity of having nine firing chambers fitted out in the thickness of the wall and equipped in addition with gunboats. The tour du Vieux Donjon tower is the only still visible vestige of the first castle called “the New Tower”. Other more recent towers are also still visible, such as the tour du Port, tour de la Rivière , and tour du Fer à Cheval. Outside, the bell tower and the Loire curtain wall are also visible. The first is made up of two twin towers following its restoration. The second is pierced with an entrance originally closed by a portcullis, in order to discreetly leave the castle or for visitors to enter the castle by the waterway. First of all, there is the Couronne d’Or ro golden crown, which connects the Grand Logis to the Grand Gouvernement. This tower is 40 meters high. It is also possible to discover the Grand Logis which was the place of residence for the Duke of Brittany and his court. This monument is in the Flamboyant Gothic style. Also not to be missed, the Grand Gouvernement, built at the time of Louis XIV, whose coat of arms was restored in 1999. Not to be missed either, the petit gouvernement in Renaissance style, which served as the home of King François 1st during his stays in Nantes. Today, in addition to discovering the rich interior and exterior heritage ; it is also possible to visit the Nantes History Museum to learn more about the city’s past, present and prospects for the future.
The official Château des Ducs de Bretagne and Museum : https://www.chateaunantes.fr/en/
The Nantes tourist office on the castle/museum: https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/places/nantes-history-museum/
The Pays de la Loire region tourist board on the castle/museum: https://www.atlantic-loire-valley.com/visits/castles/chateau-des-ducs-de-bretagne-musee-d-histoire-de-nantes
There you go folks , you have a beautiful castle, museum and loads of history of the region ,all in wonderful Nantes. The Château des Ducs de Bretagne literally in Bretagne !!!. Hope you enjoy the post and do visit as it is a must me think.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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