Château-Gaillard, Medieval castle and archaeological museum in Vannes, France
Château-Gaillard is a castle and archaeological museum in Vannes comprising two stone structures connected by a polygonal tower with an interior spiral staircase. The exterior displays decorative mullioned windows typical of medieval design.
The castle was commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Malestroit in 1410 and served as an administrative center for the Duchy of Brittany. Its architecture reflected the political power it represented during Brittany's period as an independent state.
The castle holds artifacts from megalithic sites and Gallo-Roman digs in the region. These objects show how people lived here across thousands of years.
The museum sits on Rue Noé and is easily reached on foot from the city center. Guided tours are offered regularly and help visitors understand the medieval architecture and collections in more detail.
The interior features an ornate coffered ceiling from the Renaissance period with elaborately carved wooden panels. A stone called the Pierre de Justice, a Breton memorial, was officially recognized as a historic monument in 1937.
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