MIRAGE

A nice castle. It's a bit separated from the ticket booth so you have to sort of wander. The day we were there it was over-run with (American) school kids. Which was surprising. We sort of pushed our way through several giggles, found the door was open and saw most of the castle before the big groups moved in. It was amazing before the big groups... much less so with bigger groups (there is only so much room on the ramparts!). So while it's a cute castle it's not particularly special -- though it is impressive in the size of it's Bailey relative to the size of the toen it defended.

In the old border region between the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France, several castles were built to guard and defend that border. One of these castles is the imposing Château de Fougères. Built on the Couarde rock, which rises from a marshy basin enclosed by a loop of the Nançon River, the castle's location made it exceptionally defensible. The castle's history begins in the 11th century with the construction of a wooden motte-and-bailey fortress. In 1166, King Henry II of England burned this wooden fortress to the ground, after which Baron Raoul II of Fougères began construction of a new, stone castle in 1176. In the centuries that followed, the castle was frequently the scene of battle, being besieged, conquered, and recaptured. These turbulent circumstances led to its continued fortification and expansion. With the marriage of Claude of Brittany and Francis I of France in 1532, the conflict between the two states ended, and the castle lost its strategic position. The (virtually) indestructible castle survived the ravages of time relatively unscathed, with only the main building being destroyed in 1810. The castle briefly served as a prison and even a shoe factory, until it finally became a museum in 1892, which can still be visited today. Fougères is a magnificent example of a feudal castle with a military function!

Very detailed audio tour. Fascinating history and TEN towers. A must for all ages. Water wheel and moat. Absolutely incredible.

This was a hidden gem of a castle. We spent a few hours here walking around the town and the parameter of the castle. It is very impressive. We didn't take the tour since it was off season and the hours were shorter than normal. There is plenty not parking within walking distance of the location. There are also several bakeries and restaurants to just soak up the view.

An amazing place to visit. Not expensive and dominates the town and scenery. The whole town is a testament to the history of the region. There are a lot of steps if you want to walk up the towers and along the ramparts - with no alternative. It is in exceptional condition and there were free audio guides. A lot of information boards and magnificent views of the town and surrounding areas.

The biggest medieval castle in Europe. Pretty impressive. It was a bit tricky to find the ticket office (where are also toilets) To use the audio guide, you must use the map to get the right numbers.

Great medieval castle. Well curated, sound guide excellent

Amazing chateau! Brilliant experience. Site plan and excellent individual language audio. Well worth a visit and you can explore the town as well. Cafés and bistros around the chateau entrance. Easy parking nearby.