Château de Vitré

Château de Vitré

Château de Vitré is a medieval French castle located in the town of Vitré in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of the Brittany region.

Historical records indicate that the first castle in Vitré was built around the year 1000 on Mont-Saint-Croix, constructed from wood. The first stone castle in Vitré was built by Baron Robert I in the late 11th century, situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the Vilaine River valley, with its Romanesque-style gate still preserved today. In the first half of the 13th century, Baron André III rebuilt the current triangular layout, surrounded by a moat. In the 15th century, the castle was expanded, and during this period the defensive works were finally completed, particularly the Saint-Laurent Tower and the Magdalene Tower, which featured double drawbridges and arrow slits. From the end of the 15th century, renovations focused on improving the comfort of the castle, including the construction of a gallery and a Renaissance-style chapel (1530). The castle was abandoned in the 17th century and began to decline; in the late 18th century, part of the Saint-Laurent Tower collapsed, and a fire destroyed the residential buildings.

In 1820, the town of Vitré purchased the castle for 8,500 francs; in 1872, it was listed as a French historical monument; in 1875, restoration work was carried out under the direction of architect Darcy, and the following year it was opened to the public. The castle square outside the fortress was used as a parking lot but was redesigned in 2007 to enhance the grandeur of this magnificent French castle.

Château de Vitré

Must-visit reason: One of the most magnificent castles in the Brittany region

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: France[France]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Brittany Region [Brittany Region]