The Château de Vitré

Impressive, majestic, imposing… These are the terms used to describe the Château de Vitré, a true medieval masterpiece. Its singular silhouette, perched on a schist promontory, dominates the city from the top of its majestic towers and turrets. Surprise and wonder guaranteed.

The year 1000: the founding of the Château de Vitré

In the Middle Ages, Vitré benefited from a strategic location at the gates of the Duchy of Brittany to protect themselves from neighboring principalities, Normandy, Maine and Anjou. At the beginning of the year 1060, a feudal mound stood on the site of the current Sainte-Croix church. In the years 1070-XNUMX, Robert I built a first stone castle on the current rocky promontory. The novel portal of this first fortress is still visible in the courtyard of the castle.

From defensive castle to residential castle

During the first half of the 13th century^rd century André III, Baron de Vitré, around the first castle, construction of the current fortress began on a triangular plan, flanked by circular towers at each corner and semi-circular towers on the curtain walls. The defensive function of the castle is thus reinforced.

Fortified over time, the latter will be equipped with all the characteristics of the fortified castle: machicolations, drawbridge, parapet walk, gunner archers… Two centuries later (late 14th^rd / early 15th century^rd century), the construction of the entrance gatehouse and the raising of the Saint-Laurent Tower and the Madeleine Tower give the fortress the silhouette it still has today.

During the XV^rd century, the defensive fortress gradually gave way to a stately residence very comfortable. Jeanne de Laval-Châtillon, wife of Guy XII, even had a steam room made… to practice the sauna! The embellishments will be continued by Guy XV which notably includes open galleries on the ground floor attached to the reconstructed northwest dwelling to facilitate circulation in the fortress. During the first half of the 16th century^rd century the tower of the Oratory is decorated with a very beautiful style aedicula Renaissance which serves as an apse for the seigniorial chapel.

The castle of Vitré today

The second half of the XNUMXth century and the wars of religion marked the beginning of a period of decline for the Château de Vitré. Abandoned in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, confiscated as national property during the Revolution, it was partly transformed into a prison at the XNUMXth century.

Finally, in 1872, the Château de Vitré was one of the first buildings to be classified Historical Monument. From that date, it benefited from several restoration campaigns before experiencing a new lease of life with the opening in 1877 of the Castle Museum.

The latter today offers a route through the Saint-Laurent tower, the Argenterie tower and the Oratory tower with eight rooms that will transport you from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century among statues, furniture, clothing and portraits. At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the town hall of Vitré settled in a neo-Gothic style building restoring the old stately home of the XNUMXth century.

In your turn, let yourself be enchanted by the Château de Vitré and its silhouette that seems to come straight out of a fairy tale. This fortress is rediscovered at nightfall during the night tour Vitré Lights, superbly illuminated, haloed with magic.

Visit the Castle and its museum

Every Saturday and Sunday, 2 visits per day to the exterior of the Château de Vitré. Departure at 14h30 and 15h30. Duration 45 minutes, visits by guide-lecturers included in the price of the museum entrance ticket.