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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Clisson, located on a granite promontory overlooking the Nantaise Sèvre, was built from the 13th century by the lords of Clisson. Originally conceived as a polygonal enclosure flanked by cylindrical towers, it becomes a strategic point of the steps of Brittany, protecting the border of the duchy. In the 15th century, the Duke Francis II of Brittany transformed the castle into an imposing fortress, adding a second enclosure with defensive towers and bastions adapted to artillery.

Over the centuries, the castle passed into the hands of powerful families, including the Avaugur, illegitimate descendants of Francis II. During the Wars of Religion, he played a key role in defending the Protestants of the Poitou. In the 18th century, abandoned by its owners, it was burned in 1793 by Republican troops during the Vendée War. The ruins then become a stone quarry for the reconstruction of the city.

In the 19th century, the sculptor François-Frédéric Lemot bought the castle and undertook conservation work, inspired by romanticism and Italian landscapes. Although its restorations are not archaeologically accurate, they save part of the monument. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1924, the castle is now open to the public and hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

The remains of the castle bear witness to its architectural evolution, from its medieval origins to its adaptations for modern artillery. The towers, ramparts and seigneurial houses, partially restored, offer an overview of its strategic importance and its role in the history of Brittany and France.

Among the remarkable elements are the house-door west, partially collapsed, the seigneurial kitchens with their monumental fireplace, and the bastions built under Francis II. The 13th century Saint-Louis Tower recalls the stay of King Louis IX in 1230. The successive restorations, especially in the 20th century, preserved this emblematic heritage of the Pays de la Loire.

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