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Name: Forteresse de Largoët.
Location: Elven, Brittany, northwestern France.
Map: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rimex-France_location_Bri...
Built: between the 13th and 15th centuries.
.
History
Forteresse de Largoët, also known as Château de Largoët, Largoet Castle and Tours d’Elven (Elven Towers), is a medieval castle in Elven, 8 miles from Vannes. A castle is mentioned for the first time in 1020, belonging to the baron of Elven, Derrien I, but the present building was constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries. The manor became the property of the Malestroit family in the 13th century. The houses of Blois and Montfort fought for it during the Breton War of Succession.
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the French supported Blois whilst the English backed Montfort. Although Montfort was ultimately successful following the Battle of Auray in 1364, it was the French who were to gain the most from his victory. Bertrand du Guesclin and Charles of Blois were heavily defeated by John of Montfort's son John V and the English warlord John Chandos. Charles was killed in action, ending the Blois pretensions in Brittany. John V was recognized as Duke of Brittany the year after. Surprisingly, the new duke declared himself as a vassal, not to the English king who helped him, but to king Charles V of France.
Forteresse de Largoët was owned by the Rieux family in the 15th century. It was during this period, between 1474 and 1476, that Jean IV, lord of Rieux, protected Henry Tudor, Duke of Richmond, future King Henry VII of England. In 1490, Charles VIII of France, dismantled the castle, but it was restored under the influence of Anne de Bretagne (1477-1514), Duchess of Brittany in 1488-1514 and Queen consort of France in 1491-1498 and in 1499-1514. Anne de Bretagne was the last independent Breton ruler, who married two successive French kings. She was born in Nantes, Brittany and was the daughter of Duke Francis II of Brittany and Margaret of Foix. Upon her father's death, she became Duchess of Brittany, Countess of Nantes, Montfort and Richmont and Viscountess of Limoges. In her time, she was the richest European woman.
Nicolas Fouquet bought Forteresse de Largoët in 1656. After his death in 1680, it was sold to Michel de Trémeurec and stayed in his family. In the 19th century, it was proposed to demolish Largoët, given its dilapidation, but it was saved thanks to Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870), who had it classed as a monument historique in 1862. Beginning in the 1970s, there has been a programme of restoration.
.
Architecture
The ruins of Largoët maintain their imposing aspect, notably because of the 14th century octagonal keep. At 148 feet (45 meters), it is one of the highest in France. A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. There are five floors and the walls are between 20 and 33 feet thick (6 and 10 meters thick). On the sixth or seventh floor is the room where Henry Tudor stayed. As well as this colossal edifice, Largoët also boasts:
- a 15th-century gatehouse, marking the entrance to the fortress, built against another 13th century building.
- a round tower of three storeys from the 15th century, with cannon openings on the first level, and covered with a hexagonal building. It was furnished in the 20th century as a hunting lodge. It has been used as a location for historical films, including Lancelot du Lac and Chouans.
- the remains of the enclosing walls, dried up moats and a lake.
- the ruins of a construction known as an ice house, used as a food store.
- the entrance to a vast cellar which was used to store wood.
- an underground tunnel at one time provided an exit from the fortress, but its entrance has not been found.
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Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Largo%C3%ABt
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breton_War_of_Succession
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_de_Bretagne
The owner of the image above is Luna04.
Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Largoet-Castle-4.jpg
The image above is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Link: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
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Name: Forteresse de Largoët.
Location: Elven, Brittany, northwestern France.
Map: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rimex-France_location_Bri...
Built: between the 13th and 15th centuries.
.
History
Forteresse de Largoët, also known as Château de Largoët, Largoet Castle and Tours d’Elven (Elven Towers), is a medieval castle in Elven, 8 miles from Vannes. A castle is mentioned for the first time in 1020, belonging to the baron of Elven, Derrien I, but the present building was constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries. The manor became the property of the Malestroit family in the 13th century. The houses of Blois and Montfort fought for it during the Breton War of Succession.
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the French supported Blois whilst the English backed Montfort. Although Montfort was ultimately successful following the Battle of Auray in 1364, it was the French who were to gain the most from his victory. Bertrand du Guesclin and Charles of Blois were heavily defeated by John of Montfort's son John V and the English warlord John Chandos. Charles was killed in action, ending the Blois pretensions in Brittany. John V was recognized as Duke of Brittany the year after. Surprisingly, the new duke declared himself as a vassal, not to the English king who helped him, but to king Charles V of France.
Forteresse de Largoët was owned by the Rieux family in the 15th century. It was during this period, between 1474 and 1476, that Jean IV, lord of Rieux, protected Henry Tudor, Duke of Richmond, future King Henry VII of England. In 1490, Charles VIII of France, dismantled the castle, but it was restored under the influence of Anne de Bretagne (1477-1514), Duchess of Brittany in 1488-1514 and Queen consort of France in 1491-1498 and in 1499-1514. Anne de Bretagne was the last independent Breton ruler, who married two successive French kings. She was born in Nantes, Brittany and was the daughter of Duke Francis II of Brittany and Margaret of Foix. Upon her father's death, she became Duchess of Brittany, Countess of Nantes, Montfort and Richmont and Viscountess of Limoges. In her time, she was the richest European woman.
Nicolas Fouquet bought Forteresse de Largoët in 1656. After his death in 1680, it was sold to Michel de Trémeurec and stayed in his family. In the 19th century, it was proposed to demolish Largoët, given its dilapidation, but it was saved thanks to Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870), who had it classed as a monument historique in 1862. Beginning in the 1970s, there has been a programme of restoration.
.
Architecture
The ruins of Largoët maintain their imposing aspect, notably because of the 14th century octagonal keep. At 148 feet (45 meters), it is one of the highest in France. A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. There are five floors and the walls are between 20 and 33 feet thick (6 and 10 meters thick). On the sixth or seventh floor is the room where Henry Tudor stayed. As well as this colossal edifice, Largoët also boasts:
- a 15th-century gatehouse, marking the entrance to the fortress, built against another 13th century building.
- a round tower of three storeys from the 15th century, with cannon openings on the first level, and covered with a hexagonal building. It was furnished in the 20th century as a hunting lodge. It has been used as a location for historical films, including Lancelot du Lac and Chouans.
- the remains of the enclosing walls, dried up moats and a lake.
- the ruins of a construction known as an ice house, used as a food store.
- the entrance to a vast cellar which was used to store wood.
- an underground tunnel at one time provided an exit from the fortress, but its entrance has not been found.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Largo%C3%ABt
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breton_War_of_Succession
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_de_Bretagne
The owner of the image above is Luna04.
Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Largoet-Castle-4.jpg
The image above is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Link: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
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