Classified as a historic monument, Ancenis castle stands facing the Loire. The fortress is one of Brittany’s strongholds. Free admission to the park every day. Temporary exhibitions in the Renaissance Logis.
The Château des Marches de Bretagne, due to its strategic location, was subjected to numerous sieges between the 12th and 16th centuries. The entrance gatehouse, built between the late 14th and early 16th centuries, features a distinctive defensive layout: a drawbridge precedes the portcullis, set within a covered gallery arranged in a zigzag pattern.
The Renaissance residential wing, a project initiated by Claude I de Rieux and his wife Suzanne de Bourbon, was built around 1529. Its façade, facing the courtyard, features early Renaissance decoration, whilst the structure of the building remains Gothic.
Between 2013 and 2015, the castle’s Renaissance residence underwent restoration. This involved both the structural reinforcement of the building and the restoration of the windows and sculptures. Today, you will find temporary exhibitions there all year round.
The grounds are open to the public every day from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm.
Exhibitions are held in the Renaissance residential wing:
– art exhibitions in the Galerie Rives de Loire
– and, during the tourist season, an exhibition on the history of the château. For further information on the latter, please contact the Pays d’Ancenis Tourism and Leisure Centre on 02 40 83 07 44.
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