Dinan Castle (french Château de Dinan) is a
castle built from 1382 in Brittany, France. It is also konwn as Donjon de la duchesse Anne (french
fo Keep of the Duchess Anne)
Dinan Castle History
Château de Dinan was built by John IV of Montfort, Duke of
Brittany, after his return from exile in England (1379).
The site was particularly important to him: it was from Dinan, a strongly
fortified city and commercial centre, that John organized resistance by the nobility to the
threatened annexation of the Duchy by France.
The castle, adjoining the city but independent of it, could both provide defence
and compel submission in case of revolt: it was a substantial political symbol.
The castle, attached to the city ramparts, was enlarged in 1595–1598 by the Duc
de Mercoeur through the annexation of the fortified 13th-century Porte du Guichet and the artillery
Tour de Coëtquen (built 1474), both of which were part of the city walls; this ensemble forms the
existing castle.
The building was altered between 1693 and 1711 by the military engineer
Garanjeau (in particular, the roof was suppressed and replaced by a terrace) and then by the
Monuments Historiques and the city of Dinan, which are now responsible for its preservation.
The main part of John of Montfort’s castle, built by Etienne le Tur and in use
by 1384, comprises a massive donjon, 34 m high. Its intricate plan is composed of two great round
towers joined by a slightly projecting forebuilding, to which the principal entrance, defended by a
drawbridge, opens on the ground floor.
The donjon has five storeys, crowned by a parapet walk with machicolation
decorated with trefoils and supported on long, elegant corbels; a sixth storey, covered with slate,
formerly made up the upper part of the structure.
On the opposite side to the projecting entrance block the donjon dominated a
very small courtyard, which was provided with a postern and drawbridge leading to the outside and a
well that controlled a complex system of water supply.
While the exterior of the Dinan Castle has a fortified
appearance, the interior is primarily residential. The floors are linked by a continuous spiral
staircase.
There is a kitchen on the ground floor, and the first to fourth storeys have the
usual late medieval layout of hall and chamber, supplemented by garderobes and latrines etc.
The rooms have huge fireplaces and are generously lit by large casement windows
with mullions and transoms. A chapel provided with a heated stall on the second floor completes
this seigneurial residence.
The donjon of Dinan is important in the history of Breton civil
and military medieval architecture. It was the outcome of a long series of experiments carried out
by ducal architects: the first ducal donjon, Pirmil (1365) at Nantes, was nothing more than a
strong, gloomy cylinder; the Tour Solidor (before 1371) at Saint-Servan was the first attempt to
unite round towers in order to form a donjon of complex plan, but the living arrangements were
crude.
Dinan castle perfectly combines military considerations with efficient
residential accommodation; and its skilful and subtle proportions enhance this achievement.
Château de Dinan Visitor Information
Dinan Castle is own and managed by the municipality of
Dinan.
Opening times
-
1st of June - 30 of septembre 10,00 -18,00
-
1st of Octobre au 31 of May de 13,30 - 17,30
The castle is closed on 25 of December and in the hole month of January.
Tickets:
An aduld ticket is 4 €, a child ticket is. 1,55 €. There are also discounted
tickets for group visits: adult tickets 2,20 € pp, and children groups (students) 1,55 €
pp
Dinan Castle Map&Location
Château de Dinan Address: Rue du Château, 22100 Dinan, France. Use this map to get
directions:
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