France has uncovered a previously lost 14th century castle, its national archaeological institute has revealed in a press release.
Preventative dig
The discovery was made underneath the courtyard of the Hotel Lagorce in Vannes, Britanny. Lagorce is a vast manor house that was built into the town ramparts at the end of the 18th century by a local businessman. It has served as a private residence, an artillery school, the town treasury, a law school, and, most recently, as the home of several cultural institutions.
Plans were in place to add an art museum to the premises and therefore in the spring and autumn of 2023 a “preventative” archaeological dig took place before any work was carried out.
A moat, a bridge, a tower
The Hotel Lagorce has long been nicknamed Château de l’Hermine, after a ducal residence whose grounds were thought to be nearby although no one was certain of the exact location. Sure enough, the dig revealed a complex of unusually complete and well-preserved castle remains over two storeys, including a moat which has yielded a number of pieces of furniture, thought to be well-preserved thanks to the muddy conditions.
In addition, the archaeological team has found several staircases, including one with ornate decorations, as well as a variety of everyday objects from the castle’s former life, such as coins, cookware and jewellery.
“The excavation revealed little by little the plan of the ground floor: the ducal house, 42 meters long and 17 meters wide,” France’s preventative archaeological institute, INRAP, said, adding that the castle walls were “of an exceptional thickness.” The castle also an unusual built-in water-powered mill and a square tower, as well as a bridge that would have connected it to the world beyond and allowed residents to access the town.
The best engineers and craftsman
John IV, one of the hereditary Dukes who once ruled over feudal Brittany, appears to have constructed the 600-year-old castle sparing no budget, with the researchers noting that the homogeneity of building methods and materials suggests it was all done relatively quickly, though graffiti on some walls reveals that builders were attempting to follow potentially complex plans.
“The construction… took place in a single phase,” INRAP’s statement went on, something which the institute says, “testifies to the importance of the financial and human resources used.” This indicates “that John IV knew how to surround himself with the best engineers and craftsmen of their time.”
It now remains to be seen how the city of Vannes will progress plans for its art museum while making the most of its latest archeological gem.
