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Lying along the Couesnon river, at the frontier between Britanny and Normandy, Bonnefontaine is a fortified castle build by Duchess Anne de Bretagne's chancellor. Erected at the end of the XVIth century, it was modified during the times. |
In the XIXth century, it was fitted out in the medieval style by the Viscount of Guiton, who was the descendant of a defender knight of the Mont Saint Michel. Bonnefontaine is dedicated to Saint Michel, who's granite statue stands on the top of the North tower. |
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View from the Orangerie |
View from south-west |
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View from the Orangerie |
The West front |
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The East Front |
The North front |
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The South tower dates from around 1547 when
King Henri II gave the authorization to Pierre de La Marzelière
to build a fortification. This tower was erected for defend purposes as
the rampart walk, the mouchette and two loop-holes indicate. v Poligone tower from the Renaissance w This tower was constructed in the XIXth century to match the already existing one of the XVIth century. The changes undertaken at this time were lead by the famous architect Martenot. x The three dormer windows of the corps de logis are a typical example of Renaissance in Brittany. The pilasters of the central dormer window carry the initials F and P, which stand for Françoise de Porcon and Pierre de La Marzelière. The dormer window on the right used to show the coat of arms of her husband Pierre de La Marzelière, surrounded by the order of Saint Michel. Unfortunately they were destroyed during the French Revolution. y The sculpture of Archangel Saint Michel, protector and symbol of the region, on the North tower dates from 1880 and is attributed to L. Gaumerais. |
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The "beast" holding Britanny's coat of arms, by Gaumerais |
The XVIth century tower (1) |
Dormer window with Guiton's coat of arms (4) |
Archangel Saint Michel on the North tower(5) |
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The XVIth century tower and turet (1) |
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