France: Scientists Reveal Foundations of Chateau de l'Hermine's Castle, Moat Underneath Hotel

Archaeologists in France recently announced that they have discovered a 14th-century castle and an intact moat around it underneath the Hotel Lagorce in the French city of Vannes.

The French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) released a statement on March 26 explaining that the excavations were carried out between the spring and autumn of 2023 and that archaeologists working on the site were surprised at how relatively complete and well-preserved the castle's remains were.

"The excavation revealed little by little the plan of the ground floor: the ducal house, 42 meters long and 17 meters wide (out of work), is endowed with walls of an exceptional thickness," the press release read in French. "Directly bordered by a moat, it is flanked to the west of what one can call a 'square tower.'"

A ducal house is a residence inhabited by a duke - specifically, John IV, Duke of Brittany, more known in history as "John the Conqueror." Fox News Digital reported that John built the castle in the 1380s.

Researchers also discovered "several" staircases, one of which INRAP described as "a remarkably preserved staircase, with a decorated core and three steps." They also found dozens of objects "related to the daily life of the castle," including coins, cooking dishes, and jewelry.

The dig even unveiled tiles covered with graffiti, padlocks for furniture, and pieces of clothing.

The preservation of several wooden items like fragments of barrels was largely attributed to the humidity of the area, which is located in France's Atlantic region of Brittany.

"In addition, archaeologists conducted a deep survey in the moat," INRAP said, explaining that the site was incredibly well-managed. "From this very wet material, they extracted rich furniture."

"The homogeneity of the materials used for the construction of the castle and the standardization of the modules show a mastery of the management of the site throughout the operating chain, from the extraction of stone to its implementation," the statement added.

"The construction... took place in a single phase, which testifies to the importance of the financial and human resources used. The remains indicate that John IV knew how to surround himself with the best engineers and craftsmen of their time."

Tags

Europe, France, Castle