Go there and contact
Castle-museum with medieval military architecture, the tower that served as a dungeon houses the Museum of Art and Archaeology of Vitré.
The Château de Vitré is one of Brittany's finest examples of medieval military architecture. In 1239, when the heiress of the barony of Vitré married the powerful Duke of Laval, most of the structures were already in place. The fortress was essentially built in the 14th and 15th centuries, after the War of the Breton Succession, during the heyday of the Vitré-Laval family. Tradition has it that the imposing mass of the fortress bears witness to the power of the local lord. Fitted with corner towers around a triangular plan, the château opens onto a drawbridge and a châtelet surrounded by two machicolated towers. To the south, the imposing Saint-Laurent tower, which served as a keep, now houses Vitré's Museum of Art and Archaeology. Inside the châtelet, the former seigniorial buildings now house the town hall. The chapel is a jewel of the Renaissance, while the Orangerie tower was converted into a natural history museum in 1876 by Arthur de La Borderie, in the encyclopedic spirit. The Oratoire tower has been converted into a museum of regional folk arts. Here you can admire a 16th-century triptych decorated with Limoges enamels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. In the 13th century, ramparts reinforced the fortress, but the château underwent a major restoration in the late 19th century after being classified as a historic monument. It is a must-see for history and heritage enthusiasts, with its fascinating museum.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on GLASS CASTLE-MUSEUM
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
Find unique holiday offers with our partners
In the following centuries, it was enlarged and beautified but largely abandoned in the 17th century.