At the castle, fall under the spell of six centuries of medieval history…
Set in the historic heart of Nantes, the Château des ducs de Bretagne is the city’s most important historic building, along with the Cathedral St. Pierre.
When looking at it from the city, it is a fortress with 500 metres of curtain walls punctuated by seven towers, all linked by a sentry walkway.
The inner courtyard reveals an elegant 15th century ducal residence made of tufa stone, in flamboyant gothic style and bearing the first traces of Renaissance inspiration, as well as other buildings dating back from the 16th and the 18th centuries. With their elegant white stone walls and sophisticated sculpted façades, they contrast strikingly with the rough textures of the exterior fortifications, made of granite blocks and separated by layers of schist.
The Grand Logis houses the Nantes’ history museum, while the Harnachement building hosts large temporary exhibitions.
At the castle? You can easily spend a day there: stroll along the ramparts, visit the museum or the exhibition, take a break in the moat or enjoy a crêpe or an ice cream at La Fraiseraie.
Nantes’ history museum
The museum tells the story of the city in 7 sequences. Its scenography offers a walking tour punctuated with 1.150 objects from its collection as well as interactive multimedia displays that are aesthetic, fun, and educational.
Discover the rebirth of a museum with its newly enriched collections pertaining to Nantes’ history (the slave trade, World War I and II…) thanks to local collection drives, and a new extension showcasing the city’s history from 1945 to today.
Discover the museum
A room dedicated to the Edict of Nantes
A new interactive and didactic digital device, a magic wall, is displayed in room 3 of the museum, now completely devoted to the Edict of Nantes.
Pierrick Sorin
Pierrick Sorin, Portrait de ville, 2010 to be seen in room 32.
It happens at the castle
Château des ducs de Bretagne, 4 Pl. Marc Elder, 44000 Nantes
How to get there?
Parking(s) nearby: Parking Château, Parking Baco-LU 1 côté gare, Parking Gare Château, Parking Feydeau, Parking Decré-Bouffay, Parking Baco-LU 2 côté CHU
Public transport: Duchesse Anne-Chateau, Duchesse Anne-Château, Lieu Unique, Monteil
Self-service bicycles: Duchesse Anne (n°49), Château (n°50), Lieu Unique (n°61), Baco (n°52), Strasbourg (n°3), Verdun (n°48), Foch (n°32), Bouffay (n°20), Gare De Nantes Nord (n°60), Moulin (n°4)
T. 0 811 46 46 44 (0.05 €/min)
T. +33 2 51 17 49 48 (depuis l'étranger / from abroad)
Website
- Inside the château, museum and exhibitions: 10am to 6pm, closed on Mondays – From 1 July to 31 August: 10am to 7pm, 7 days a week
- Last admission 30 minutes before closing time
- Courtyard and ramparts open 7 days a week, 8.30am to 7pm – From 1st July to 31st August: 8.30am to 8pm
- Moat garden open 7 days a week, 8am to 7pm – 1 July to 31 August: 8am to 8pm
- Annual site closures: 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December
Free for PASS Nantes holders
Book PASS Nantes
Free admission and free audioguide for holders of the Pass Nantes or Pass Château card holders
Free admission for holders of the annual Pass Musées (15 € valid one year from date to date in the 5 metropolitan museums)
Free on the 1st Sunday of each month, except July and August
Castle interiors, museum and exhibition:
Admission: €5/€9€ /10€ with audioguide.
Bookshop - Château shop: 10% discount on objects and 5% on books, on presentation of Pass Nantes or Pass Musée card
The Château des ducs de Bretagne has obtained the Tourism & Handicap label for the 4 types of disabilities (visual, auditory, motor and intellectual)