Combourg castle
| Combourg castle | ||
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 Château de Combourg |
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| Creation time : | 12th Century | |
| Castle type : | Moated castle | |
| Conservation status: | Receive | |
| Place: | Combourg | |
| Geographical location | 48 ° 24 '27.3 " N , 1 ° 45' 13.5" W | |
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Combourg Castle is a former moated castle from the 12th century. It is located on a hill above the eponymous town of Combourg in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany (France), about halfway between Rennes (39 km) and Saint-Malo (36 km).
history
The Combourg feudal estate was founded in 1016 AD by the Archbishop of Dol . It was a gift to his brother Rivallon, tied to an emergency assistance obligation.
Erected on a rock, which at that time stood in the middle of a lake, the weir system, which was designed according to strictly military considerations, was given its present form in the 12th century. The parts of the building, which were still below the waterline at that time, only became visible after the outer defenses had been removed in the 15th century. The resulting height difference to the entrance on the north side was compensated by an external granite staircase. Since then, the defiant castle appears even higher and more powerful than before. Today it is surrounded by a park.
While the owners changed several times from the Middle Ages to the modern era, the gloomy and legendary building with its labyrinthine, winding battlements that should confuse intruders has been in the hands of a family since the 18th century. Coming from Saint-Malo, Count René August de Chateaubriand, father of the famous French poet and statesman Francois-René de Chateaubriand , bought the castle in 1761 and made it the family seat. Via the eldest son, who inherited the property in 1786, it came to Louis Chateaubriand, the direct ancestor of the current lords of the castle.
Building description
As a spur castle in a lake (rather rare in the castle typology) it was initially a classic moated castle with a trapezoidal floor plan and four mighty round defensive towers at each corner. The entrance, which is elevated after the drainage, is flanked by the Kreuzritterturm (NW) and Maurenturm (NE), left and right respectively. In between the subsequently added massive stairs to the park. Is at the back of the old palace , which is protected by the Katzenturm (SW) and through the east tower (SO). The towers are closed with a wax gallery, stepped machicolated provided and pointed roofs. Numerous loopholes to defend the walls complete the impression of the fortress. The defensive walls and battlements are still clearly visible; there are also numerous hidden shelters and secret passages.
Several buildings around a rectangular inner courtyard (connected to the old curtain wall ) make up the interior of the castle. It was restored in 1875 by the Count and Countess de Chateaubriand. As direct relatives of their most important ancestor Francois-René, they archived and exhibited writings and objects from his estate in Combourg.