The Château des Ducs de Bretagne, a historic jewel in the heart of the city.

Birth

Construction of the Château de Nantes began in the 14th century. All that remains of this period is the tower known as the Vieux Donjon, and at the time the city of Nantes consisted of what is now the Bouffay district. In 1466, François II of Brittany decided to rebuild the castle and erected the imposing ramparts, which were later reinforced by his daughter Anne of Brittany, twice Queen of France through her successive marriages to Charles VIII and Louis XII. During the same period, a white tufa residential palace was built inside (Le Grand Gouvernement, rebuilt under Louis XIV, the Grand Logis and the Tour de la Couronne d'Or), followed by a second, smaller Renaissance-style palace (Le Petit Gouvernement). Their refinement contrasts with the ramparts and reflects the castle's defensive and prestigious role from this period onwards.

Decline

In 1532, with the union of Brittany with France, the building became royal property and then the Breton residence of the kings of France over the course of the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1582, during the Wars of Religion, the ramparts were further improved to accommodate cannons. The castle then gradually lost its superb appearance, becoming a prison, barracks and then an arsenal. The explosion of the Spanish Tower in 1800 caused extensive damage to the cathedral and led to the destruction of the chapel and the castle archives. Classified as a historic monument in 1862, it was sold by the State to the City of Nantes in 1915, before becoming a municipal museum in 1924. During the Second World War, German occupying troops moved in and built a bunker in the courtyard.

Back in majesty:

In the early 90s, major renovation work began to restore the château to its former glory, with the first projects being the restoration of the Jacobins Tower and the facades of the Grand Gouvernement (15th/17th) and the Couronne d'Or Tower (15th). The Harnachement building (18th arrondissement), refurbished in 1997, was dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

In the 2000s, the white tufa facades of the Grand Logis (15th/17th) were restored, along with the oldest and most striking parts of the building, which make the Château des Ducs de Bretagne similar to the châteaux of the Loire Valley. The ducal residence was also completely refurbished to house the museum.

Above all, take a stroll! The inner courtyard, with its elegant flamboyant Gothic ducal residence, is open to the public, as is the moat garden, perfect for a picnic. Take a stroll along the ramparts, which are also freely accessible, and admire the view over the town as you imagine yourself a knight in shining armour defending his citadel.

Please note that dogs are not allowed inside the castle, with the exception of guide dogs.

The Nantes History Museum

If you're a history buff with a burning desire to discover all the city's secrets, head to the Musée d'histoire de Nantes in the Château des Ducs. From the history of the construction of the Château to the Atlantic slave trade, the two world wars and industrialisation, this fun, interactive museum will take you through all the key historical events in Nantes. Nantes artist Pierrick Sorin has also contributed to the exhibition with his video creations.

The museum boasts an impressive collection of heterogeneous objects and period documents that will take you on a real journey back in time!

The Museum's temporary exhibitions also focus on different aspects of Nantes' history and culture, with the constant acquisition of new objects that have never been exhibited before.

Over the years, visitors have been able to discover Nantaises au travail; Nantais venus d'ailleurs; En guerres, 1914-1918 / 1939-1945, Nantes / Saint-Nazaire; Rock! A history of Nantes; LU, a century of innovation; L'abîme. Nantes in the Atlantic slave trade and colonial slavery...

🍴 This is a must if you're visiting the château! In the middle of the inner courtyard sits the crêperie La Fraiseraie, a veritable institution in the Loire Atlantique region. For 50 years, this family-run business, which originally produced strawberries, has been delighting the people of Pornic with its ice creams, which have become famous throughout the department. After opening an ice cream parlour in the centre of Nantes, La Fraiseraie has now moved to the château for a Crêperie formula, in keeping with the heritage of the Dukes of Brittany. But don't panic, their famous ice creams are still on the menu and even feature in the crêpes. Our expert advice? The Fraiseraie crêpe: jam, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and the incredible strawberry sorbet that has made the ice cream parlour famous.4...