Langeais Castle
Langeais Castle is a castle that towers over the town of Langeais on the right bank of the Loire in France .
From the original fortress there are still remains of the donjon , one of the first to be built in stone. The background for the construction of this fortress was the efforts of the then Count of Anjou to incorporate the territories of the Counts of Blois and Tours . During the Hundred Years War the castle fell into the hands of the English and was finally razed to the donjon in 1428.
history
The new castle was built from 1465 below the fortress to protect the crown domain . The builder was Jean Bourré, Louis XI's privy councilor . , by order of the king. For a while the castle was owned by the crown and from 1631 onwards it was only transferred to the respective castle owners for use.
The epoch-making event in the castle was the glamorous wedding of Charles VIII to Anne de Bretagne , which took place in Langeais in 1491. It had an impact on both the history of France and that of Europe, because Brittany fell to France and not to the House of Habsburg . This union was also ensured for the time after the sudden death of Charles VIII. For today's visitor, the lavish wedding in the great hall of the palace is re-enacted and brought to life again as part of an animation (in French).
The castle itself is located in the middle of the city and impresses the newcomer with three mighty round towers and access via the restored drawbridge . With its stair towers and portholes, the courtyard side looks less strict and defensive. The palace garden was reconstructed based on contemporary miniatures from the 15th century, and from a small hill you have a beautiful panoramic view of the palace and the city.
Today's excellent condition of the castle is thanks to the dedication of Jacques Siegfried, who from 1886 onwards devoted his time and money to building and furnishing the 15th and 16th centuries. In the end he bequeathed the castle, including its furnishings and art objects, to the Institut de France .
15 rooms in the castle are fully furnished. Original seating furniture, tables, cupboards, chests and beds in the Gothic flamboyant style of the 15th and 16th centuries were purchased under expert guidance from professionals. Jacques Siegfried had the wall paneling and floor tiles modeled after old models. The most valuable pieces in the collection, along with paintings and sculptures, are contemporary wall hangings . Of which there are about 30 pieces, from Flanders and from the factory of Aubusson come. The castle's remarkable fixtures and fittings include a number of open chimneys , some of which have lavishly designed coats.
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 19 ′ 29 ″ N , 0 ° 24 ′ 21 ″ E