Château de Fougères

Fougères, France

The Château de Fougères is an impressive castle with curtain wall and 13 towers. It had three different enclosures, first for defensive purposes, second for day to day usages in peacetime and for safety of the surrounding populations in times of siege, the last enclosure was where the keep was situated.

The first wooden fort was built by the House of Amboise in the 11th century. It was destroyed in 1166 after it was besieged and taken by King Henry II of England. It was immediately rebuilt by Raoul II Baron de Fougères. Fougères was not involved in the Hundred Years' War until 1449 when the castle was taken by surprise by an English mercenary. In 1488 the French troops won the castle back after a siege and the castle lost its military role.

In the late 18th century the castle was turned into a prison. The owner in this period was the Baron Pommereul. In the 19th century the outer ward became an immense landscaped garden. A museum was established in the Mélusine Tower. During the Industrial Revolution, a shoe factory set up shop in the castle grounds.

The City of Fougères took ownership of the Château in 1892. It had been a listed Historical Monument since 1862. A major campaign was launched to clean up the castle walls. While the castle had retained many of its original features, some of the curtain walls needed to be cleared and certain sections required major repairs. The changes made in the 18th century were "reversed," and the castle was finally open to visitors. The first campaign of archaeological excavations, conducted in 1925, unearthed the ruins of the manor house.

Since then, the Château de Fougères has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors every year. The castle's excellent state of conservation, and the historical interest of its architecture, make Fougères an invaluable window onto the Middle Ages. From great lords to simple builders, generations of inhabitants have left their mark on these walls.

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Details

Founded: c. 1167
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Karen Duffy (2 years ago)
Food is delicious, service is fabulous and ambience second to none
Ewelina wojcik (2 years ago)
We arrived there with our border collie 2 days ago, and the waiter brought some water for him straight away. The service was friendly and polite. The food was tasty. The owner came to talk to us, as he liked our dog. Lovely place to enjoy your dinner right next to the castle.
Joe O'Keefe (3 years ago)
Exceptional service, great food, really lovely atmosphere. I really can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.. We ate from the 19:50 Euro menu
Eric Gratacap (5 years ago)
We had a really nice meal here. We were sitting outside when it started to rain but they moved quickly to set us up to a new covered spot. The food was delicious and the wait staff super friendly. The restaurant also has an amazing view of the château.
Diego Perale (6 years ago)
Very good restaurant, with a nice small room. Very friendly staff, portions and fair prices.
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The two donjons are the only remaining part of the castle. The castle was started by Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century and completed by Richard the Lionheart. It was defended by a rectangular curtain wall and was damaged during the Wars of Religion. In the 18th century, the castle served as a prison.

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