Château d'Ancenis, Ancenis, France

Château d'Ancenis was originally built in 984 AD to the banks of Loire river. It was a motte-and-bailey castle made of wood. In the 15th century it was rebuilt as a stone castle and has also Renaissance features.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Cristina Bognolo (20 months ago)
Visto solo da fuori purtroppo. Bella posizione proprio sulla Loira.

Olivier Roy (2 years ago)
Beau château en finition de rénovation

Isabelle Goubaud (2 years ago)
Très belle vue

Fab Mon (2 years ago)
À voir ...!! Le château d'Ancenis est un château fort bâti en 984 sur les bords de la Loire dans la ville d'Ancenis, en Loire-Atlantique. Il fait l’objet d’un classement au titre des monuments historiques depuis le 2 novembre 1977. Cette protection concerne l’ensemble des fortifications, ainsi que les façades et toitures des bâtis (logis Renaissance, ancienne chapelle et du logis dit « de Marie Fouquet ») Il s'agissait, à l'origine, d'une motte castrale, c'est-à-dire un donjon en bois élevé sur un tertre. Il possédait des défenses rudimentaires, à savoir un fossé, une simple palissade avec un enclos pour abriter la population. De par sa position, il devint rapidement un endroit idéal pour surveiller le fleuve, exerçant ainsi un contrôle militaire et économique. La forteresse médiévale (XVe siècle) possède un système d'accès unique : un pont-levis couvert disposé en chicane et une galerie voûtée coudée avec une herse. ☺

Jacky Florent (2 years ago)
Je ss juste passé à côté, donc pas de visite, mais beau de l'extérieur

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Monceau

Historic Site of the week

Kisimul Castle

Dating from the 15th century, Kisimul is the only significant surviving medieval castle in the Outer Hebrides. It was the residence of the chief of the Macneils of Barra, who claimed descent from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. Tradition tells of the Macneils settling in Barra in the 11th century, but it was only in 1427 that Gilleonan Macneil comes on record as the first lord. He probably built the castle that dominates the rocky islet, and in its shadow a crew house for his personal galley and crew. The sea coursed through Macneil veins, and a descendant, Ruari ‘the Turbulent’, was arrested for piracy of an English ship during King James VI’s reign in the later 16th century.

Heavy debts eventually forced the Macneil chiefs to sell Barra in 1838. However, a descendant, Robert Lister Macneil, the 45th Chief, repurchased the estate in 1937, and set about restoring his ancestral seat. It passed into Historic Scotland’s care in 2000.

The castle dates essentially from the 15th century. It takes the form of a three-storey tower house. This formed the residence of the clan chief. An associated curtain wall fringed the small rock on which the castle stood, and enclosed a small courtyard in which there are ancillary buildings. These comprised a feasting hall, a chapel, a tanist’s house and a watchman’s house. Most were restored in the 20th century, the tanist’s house serving as the family home of the Macneils. A well near the postern gate is fed with fresh water from an underground seam. Outside the curtain wall, beside the original landing-place, are the foundations of the crew house, where the sailors manning their chief’s galley had their quarters.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)!

Château d'Ancenis

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

The Beauty of Cinque Terre

Historic Site of the week

Kisimul Castle

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?