Château du Taureau, Fortified castle in Morlaix Bay, France.
Château du Taureau sits on a rocky island in Morlaix Bay with a distinctive fortified layout. The structure spans three levels containing casemates and gun emplacements, with terraces around it and a substantial drawbridge controlling entrance.
Built around 1500 by Morlaix residents to counter English raids on the bay, the fortress received major upgrades during the 1600s under architect Vauban's direction. These modifications brought it in line with Louis XIV's military standards and fortification methods.
The fortress transformed its purpose across centuries, serving as a military stronghold, then as a prison holding political prisoners who wrote significant works here, and finally as a sailing academy. These different roles left marks throughout the structure that visitors can still see today.
Plan your visit around tidal conditions since the slipway functions only at certain water levels. Boats depart from Carantec beach or the port of Diben in Plougasnou, so check tide schedules and departure times beforehand.
The boat slipway operates only when water levels fall between 3 and 8.5 meters (10 and 28 feet), limiting visits to specific hours each day. This natural constraint gives the place a special quality and shows how deeply tied it is to the sea's rhythms.
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