Hermine Castle

The Château de l'Hermine, memory of the dukes of Brittany

The Vannes audio-guided tour brings you before the Château de l'Hermine. This fine eighteenth-century mansion has, however, nothing to do with the original Château de l'Hermine, whose name and memory it has inherited.

From ducal fortress to mansion

The first castle was a fortress built at the request of Duke John IV of Brittany in the fourteenth century. Integrated into the ramparts and graced with a magnificent garden, it was the main residence of the dukes before they settled in Nantes. King Francis I stayed there in 1532 for the vote on the union of the duchy with France. This did not prevent its near-destruction over time, part of its stones being used to repair the ramparts.

What there is to see

The building seen today, sometimes called the Hôtel Lagorce, is an elegant eighteenth-century mansion, built on the site of the ducal fortress. Excavations have recently allowed the original castle to resurface. The place thus preserves the memory of the dukes of Brittany and of the eventful history of the walled town.

Practical information

The Château de l'Hermine stands on the edge of the walled town of Vannes, near the ramparts and their gardens. The façade and surroundings can be discovered freely at all hours; the conditions of access to the interior and the excavations may vary with the projects under way.

Is the current château the original one?

No. The current building is an eighteenth-century mansion. The original castle, built for Duke John IV in the fourteenth century, was largely destroyed over time.

Which king stayed there?

King Francis I stayed there in 1532, on the occasion of the vote on the union of the duchy of Brittany with France, a key moment in regional history.