The first castle

Rochefort-en-Terre is one ofBrittany’s oldest seigneuries, with evidence of a castle dating back to the early 12th century. For four centuries, the de Rochefort, then de Rieux-Rochefort families established the town’s position and exerted considerable political, religious and economic influence.

At the age of eleven, Jean IV inherited an immense estate: He became Count of Rieux and Rochefort, Viscount of Donges, Baron of Ancenis and, through his marriage to Françoise Malestroit, heiress to the important seigneury of Elven, Lord of Malestroit and Argoët. Marshal of Brittany and tutor to Duchess Anne, he was a powerful figure. In 1488, at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, he commanded the Breton armies, which lost to the King of France, Charles VIII, who ordered the destruction of numerous Breton fortresses, including Rochefort. Jean IV de Rieux-Rochefort seems to have played an important role in the Duchess’s marriage to the King of France. After this event, Jean IV de Rieux received a considerable sum of 100,000 ecus from Anne de Bretagne, as well as an annual annuity to rebuild his castles. The entrance châtelet and south tower date from this period.

A study has been carried out on the state of conservation of the entrance châtelet and ramparts of Rochefort-en-Terre. This diagnosis revealed the worrying state of the châtelet and certain ramparts. The commune of Rochefort-en-Terre has therefore scheduled the launch of restoration work. Before the work can get underway, an archaeological survey will be carried out, which we hope will shed new light on the history of the site.