Castle of Clisson

The castle of Clisson is located in the town of Clisson, on left bank of the Nantes Sèvre.

History

At the time of the independent Brittany, the castle, located at a crossroads with the Anjou and the Poitou, is one of the great frontier fortified towns of the Duché of Brittany.

The first lords of Clisson occupy the site at the beginning of the 11th century. They are mentioned for the first time in 1040. Clisson is then the seat of powerful a Châtellenie covering twenty-three parishes.

The major part of the current castle dates from the 13th century. Built on a rocky outcrop dominating Separates it by Guillaume de Clisson, it is at that time appeared as an irregular polygon flanked of cylindrical turns and isolated from the rock plate by a not very deep ditch.

In the 14th century, Olivier III of Clisson incorporates the châtelet being used as access in a large quadrangular keep. The two semicircular turns constitutive of the châtelet collapse at the 17th century. The castle becomes the framework of the animated lives of Olivier IV of Clisson then of Olivier V of Clisson, named Connétable of France in succession of Of Guesclin in 1380.

At the 15th century, the fortifications are modernized in order to allow the use of artillery. In second half of the century, the old entry is modified and the Courtine is prolonged and supplemented by a Barbacane. In same time, the castle is increased in the west by a new rectangular enclosure of almost one hundred meters length, armed with turns with casemates for artillery.

After 1420, the castle becomes property of the Duc of Brittany. It is then one of the preferred residences of the duke François II of Brittany which there remarie with Marguerite de Foix in 1474. It makes build one second flanked rectangular enclosure of artillery turns.

Towards 1590, the disturbed period of the wars of the League requires the construction of three handle bastions embanked on the southern face. Three spread out lines of defense in-depth protèget thus this place of war.

Until the XVIIe century, the castle is the residence of the family of Avaugour, resulting from François Ier d' Avaugour, wire bastard of François II. It then is modified and transformed with the taste of the time.

During the Wars of the Vendée, the city and its castle are set fire to by the infernal columns of Jean-Baptiste Kléber.

In 1807, the field is repurchased by François-Frederic Lemot, with an aim of being preserved. During the 19th century, the castle in ruins attracts romantic painters and sculptors.

In 1962, the castle is repurchased with the Lemot family by the General advice of the Loire-Atlantique, which undertakes to it important work of restoration with the assistance of the Ministère of the Culture.

Art

The castle was used as model with the table of Jean Metzinger, the castle of Clisson , painted in 1905 and exposed to the Musée of the Art schools of Nantes.

Sources

Folder Castle of Clisson, medieval fortress , by the General advice of the Loire-Atlantique

See too

Family of Clisson
List of the lords of Clisson

External bonds

Official site of the city Clisson

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