Château de Vitré, Medieval castle in Vitré, France
Château de Vitré is a medieval fortress with a triangular plan, its towers mainly dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The entrance facade on the east is preceded by a wide esplanade, the Place du Château, which replaced the medieval lower courtyard. A Romanesque doorway survives from the late 11th-century stone castle.
Baron Robert I built this fortress in stone at the end of the 11th century, replacing an earlier wooden structure. Over the following centuries, it remained an important stronghold for Breton nobility and was continuously reinforced.
The castle displays collections that reveal how Breton nobility lived and governed during the Middle Ages. Walking through the rooms and towers, you can see how medieval families organized their daily lives within these defensive walls.
The fortress is open to visitors most days, and you can walk the ramparts and explore the towers and exhibits inside. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here to fully see the main areas and avoid visiting during peak times if possible.
Guy XV de Laval opened the castle gates to royal troops on 1 September 1487 without a fight, against the wishes of the townspeople. According to Bertrand d'Argentré, he had instructed that the French be let in at night through a postern, which gave them the town.
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