Tours d'entrée de la Citadelle de Champtoceaux

In the 15th century, Champtoceaux was known as Châteauceaux. It was a very large fortress overlooking the Loire between Angers and Nantes. The medieval ruins offer a pleasant and romantic setting for a signposted walk with historical evocations and views over the Loire.

If you're visiting Champtoceaux, you won't want to miss the 2 towers in Place des Piliers. These are the remains of a medieval citadel!

The ancient fortified town of Châteauceaux was destroyed in 1420 by the Duke of Brittany. At the time, the citadel was 2.5 times the size of the citadel at Carcassonne.

The entrance to the citadel was therefore located between these 2 towers. The one on the left is authentic and dates from the 12th century, while the one on the right was restored in the 19th century with decorative battlements and was used as a courtroom and prison for common criminals.
In any case, in the Middle Ages, a gate had to represent security and power. It had to both encourage merchants to set up within the city walls and intimidate bandits. That's why the architecture was so massive, yet so detailed and elaborate.

Are you curious? Would you like to find out more about Champtoceaux's prestigious past? Then don't wait any longer and take the "Medieval Trail" walk now to discover the secrets of the Châteauceaux citadel!