Heritage TourCastle rampartsRochefort-en-Terre

Castle ramparts

In the past, the château was protected by a deep dry moat and ramparts, completing the natural defense provided by the site.

Getting there

The origin of the ramparts

The fortress consisted of a high pentagonal wall, punctuated by artillery towers, and a double-drawn bridge gate to the west. The masonry of the ramparts is mixed: schist rubble is used for the masonry, while granite ashlar is used mainly for the frames of the gates and loopholes. The entire enclosure as we know it today can be attributed to Jean IV de Rieux, who renovated it at the end of the 15th century while retaining some earlier elements. Further modifications were made later by the de Larlan family. Jean IV de Rieux was a Breton nobleman, lord of Rieux and Rochefort-en-Terre, appointed Marshal of Brittany in 1470 and General of the Duke of Brittany’s armies in 1472. He was also appointed tutor to the young Duchess Anne of Brittany in 1488.

Visit Rochefort En Terre Magie De Noel 25

Excavation campaigns

to understand

When an edifice such as the Château de Rochefort-en-Terre crosses the centuries and evolves according to the vagaries of history, it can be difficult to understand its modifications. In the late 1990s, several excavations were carried out at Rochefort-en-Terre castle, with the aim of analyzing the evolution of the enclosure.