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Dinan Castle: Keep on the left, city walls on the right

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posted on 2017-06-30, 00:00 authored by G. Massiot & cie
The Ch\u00E2teau de Dinan today consists of a keep or donjon (a large fortified tower built within castle). The keep and the gate are part of the 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) of medieval ramparts which still surround the old town. It is called Donjon de la Duchesse Anne (Keep of the Duchess Anne), and stands 111 feet (34 m) high near the Saint Louis gate. John V, Duke of Brittany built the keep in 1382-1383. The keep is formed by a union of two tall circular towers; a moat and drawbridge divides the keep from the outside of the ramparts as well as from the inside of the city, providing a stronghold both against outsiders and from the townspeople themselves. Extensive machicolations overhang the wall head providing defensive coverage of the base of the tower. The castle was listed for protection as a monument historique in 1886.

History

Date Created

1910-01-01

Date Modified

2017-06-30

Spatial Coverage

Dinan, Brittany, France|Dinan|+48.45-2.044722

Temporal Coverage

before or circa 1910

Cultural Context

Medieval

Rights Statement

To view the physical lantern slide, please contact the Architecture Library.

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