Josselin Castle facts for kids
Josselin Castle and the River Oust
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| Location | Josselin, Morbihan, Brittany, France |
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Josselin Castle is a very old castle in Josselin, a town in Brittany, France. It was first built in the year 1008 by a nobleman named Guéthénoc. The town and castle got their name from Guéthénoc's son, Goscelinus. Over the years, the castle has been rebuilt many times. The castle you see today was mostly built by Olivier V de Clisson after 1370. It is considered a very important historical building in France.
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History of Josselin Castle
Building the First Castle
Around the year 1008, Guéthénoc, a local lord, started building the first castle. He chose a strong spot on a rocky hill overlooking the Oust river valley. This new fortress was named after his son, Goscelinus, which later became "Josselin." The castle's location was great for both defense and trade. Also, a yearly religious trip to a nearby church brought many visitors and wealth to the area.
When Henry II Destroyed the Castle
In 1154, there was a disagreement about who should rule Brittany. Henry II of England got involved and helped a young duke named Conan IV. Henry II and his son, Geoffrey, attacked Josselin Castle. They tore it down in 1168 and again in 1175. Henry II even put salt on the ground where the castle stood, so nothing would grow there.
The Famous Combat of the Thirty
During a war in Brittany (1341–1364), the soldiers at Josselin Castle were fighting against soldiers from a nearby castle called Ploërmel. To end the fight, they decided on a special challenge called the "Combat of the Thirty." On March 26, 1351, thirty knights from each side fought in a field between the two castles. The knights from Josselin won this famous battle.
Olivier V de Clisson Rebuilds
In 1370, a brave Breton soldier named Olivier V de Clisson became the owner of Josselin. He was a very important military leader in France. Olivier built a huge new fortress with eight towers and a tall main tower. He made sure his daughter married into the powerful Rohan family, who owned land nearby.
Anne of Brittany's Influence
Later, in 1488, the Duke of Brittany, Francis II, captured the castle and partly destroyed it. But his daughter, Anne of Brittany, who was also the Queen of France, helped the Rohan family get the castle back. Jean II of Rohan, a descendant of Olivier V de Clisson, then made big changes. He built a beautiful new part of the castle with a fancy stone front, showing the new style of the Renaissance. He even added Anne's special symbol, the letter 'A', carved into the stone.
Challenges and Changes
The Rohan family were Protestants, which meant they were not allowed to live at Josselin for a time. In 1603, Henri, Duke of Rohan, a leader of the Protestants, moved his military base to another castle. In 1629, a powerful French leader named Cardinal Richelieu ordered parts of Josselin Castle to be taken down. He removed the main tower and four other towers, making the castle less strong.
For a long time in the 1700s, the castle was not used as a home for powerful lords. During the French Revolution, it was even used as a prison and a storage building. But in 1822, a princess named Caroline convinced the Duke of Rohan to restore the castle to its former glory.
Josselin Castle Today
Josselin Castle is still a home for the Rohan family today. The current Duke of Rohan, Josselin de Rohan, used to be the leader of the Brittany region. Inside the castle, you can see a marble statue of an earlier Duke, made by the famous artist Auguste Rodin. There is also a statue of Olivier de Clisson on horseback.
The castle also has a fun toy and doll museum. It has a collection of more than 5,000 toys and dolls for visitors to see.
Images for kids
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Banner of the arms of the House of Rohan-Chabot, flown from the ramparts of the castle
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Josselin para niños
- List of castles in France
