The Château des ducs de Bretagne (English: Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) is a large castle located in the city of Nantes in the Loire-Atlantique department of France, Pays de la Loire; The castle has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862.
Founded by the Dukes of Brittany in the 13th century to constitute a defensive base in Nantes, the castle became, under François II, the main Breton ducal residence.
Its military function was also used by the Duke during the Mad War when he opposed the King of France.
His daughter, Duchess Anne, was later forced to marry two successive kings of France, Charles VIII and Louis XII. These marriages bring about the union of Brittany with France, definitively sealed by an edict signed at the castle in 1532, by François Ier.
Therefore, the castle loses its status as a ducal residence to become a royal fortress.
Today the castle houses the Nantes History Museum.
Tariffs and schedule
Courtyard and ramparts in free access
Open 7 days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July 1 to August 31: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Interiors of the castle, museum and exhibitions
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays
July 1 to August 31: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week
Last ticket office access 30 minutes before closing
Annual site closures
January 1, May 1, November 1, December 25
Entrance to the museum and temporary exhibitions
Full price: 8 €
Reduced price: 5 €
GPS coordinates: 47°12′57″N 1°33′0″W
Shortest distances by car
- From Paris: 4 hr 12 min (387 km) via A11
- From Toulouse: 5 hr 40 min (584 km) via A62, A10 and A83
- From Lyon: 6 hr 39 min (685 km) via A71 and A85
- From Marseille: 9 hr 13 min (984 km) via A62
- From Nice: 10 hr 49 min (1,142 km) via A62
- From Monaco: 10 hr 58 min (1,164 km) via A62
- From Andorra: 7 hr 54 min (766 km) via A62
- From Madrid: 10 hr 53 min (1,038 km) via A-1
- From Moscow: 35 hr (3,272 km) via E30/M1
- From Belgrade: 21 hr 47 min (2,102 km) via E70
- From Istanbul: 32 hr (3,051 km) via E70
- From Bern: 8 hr 53 min (895 km) via A6
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here Andorra travel guide
