Castle of Suscinio

History of the castle

The site of this ducal castle is explained by the proximity of the sea and the possibilities of hunting offered by the marshes and the forest. Suscinio is a residence of summer close to Valves, significant administrative center of the duchy. It is into 1218 that Suscinio was mentioned for the first time. Pierre de Dreux was engaged for his construction at the beginning of XIIIe century, time probable of the first tower of dwelling. The remainder of the castle includes/understands a polygonal court of traditional plan of XIIIe century, surrounded by a flanked courtine turns. The apartments are composed of large the châtelet (four stages with superimposed rooms, a vault opening on the room of the second stage) and of the western home, which extends from the old tower towards north, going back to at least two different periods. Another vault castrale, in which excavations revealed a remarkable paving of mosaic, rose as with the castle of Largoët and other sites, outside the enclosure which a ditch surrounded. The evolution of the old site transformed into a fortress, dates according to the wars of succession. The construction of large the châtelet expressed the need for Jean IV and Jean V to reaffirm from approximately 1380 their ducal authority, particularly vis-a-vis the constant threats of other great families, and to repair the damage caused by several seats, during civil wars, in particular its capture by Of Guesclin, in 1373. In XVe century, the New tower, among others, was furnished with loopholes with gun. The strategic significance of the castle was also appreciated by Vauban. Finally taken by storm by the chouans, then used like career (1798), the monument was classified thanks to the efforts of Prosper Mérimée. It is only recently that its true beauty was discovered, following a vast campaign of repair and restoration.