Château de Dinan

The Château de Dinan stands in the old town of Dinan, in the Côtes-d’Armor département of Brittany. The first castle on the site appeared by 1064 and is shown in the Bayeux Tapestry. Conan II, Duke of Brittany, surrendered here in 1065 during the Battle of Dinan. The defences were strengthened in 1283 and improved until the War of the Breton Succession ended in 1365. The present keep was built in 1382–3 by Etienne le Tur for John V, Duke of Brittany. The keep is known as the Donjon de la duchesse Anne and rises near the Saint Louis gate. It consists of two tall circular towers joined together, with a moat and drawbridge separating it from the ramparts and the town. Machicolations overhang the wall head to cover the base of the tower. The keep and gate form part of the 2,600 metres of medieval ramparts that still encircle the old town. The castle is owned by the commune and houses the local museum. It was listed for protection as a monument historique in 1886. The gate called Porte du Guichet and the Tour de Coëtquen were added in the late 16th century by Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur. Military engineer Garanjeau made further changes between 1693 and 1711.