Brest Castle and Navy Museum

Brest – Chateau de Brest

Built: 3rd century
Status: Public-Museum (Navy)
Visitable?: Yes
Notable: One of France’s biggest fortress, still in use by the Navy and now also a big museum
Web: National Museum of the Navy

The Brest Castle/Fortress, one of the largest fortifications in France, remains in excellent condition despite being built by the Romans in the 3rd century. Its remarkable state can be attributed to its continued use as a crucial location for the French Navy, as well as its function as home to the significant National Museum of the Navy.

Right opposite of the fortress/castle you will see the Navy docks where big warships often can be seen.

The fortress is surrounded by water on one side and a moat with flat land on the other (now used mostly for car parks).

Outside the Brest Fortress in Brittany
Outside the Brest Fortress in Brittany

The Castle/Fortress

The entry to the Brest Castle/Fortress is impressive, two towers and a drawbridge:

Main entrance to the Brest Castle in Brittany
Main entrance to the Brest Castle in Brittany

You will need to go to the side door to enter the castle (and pay your entrance fee).

Entrance to the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Entrance to the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

After paying access you can walk through the fortress more or less at free will, apart from the French Navy Prefecture part.

French Navy Prefecture base inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
French Navy Prefecture base inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

Since this is military, you are not allowed to make any photos of the installations… honest, really.

Old fashion cannons protect the French Navy Prefecture base inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Old fashion cannons protect the French Navy Prefecture base inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

Part of the walk is through the museum, but on the outside, you can admire this fortress; enormous size, sturdy construction and not easy to defeat.

The castle has seen many wars and attacks over the centuries. The English have been masters of the fortress several times, and the French had many battles with the Bretons (before Brittany became part of France). And let’s not forget the Spanish.

Many famous French royalties and nobilatoes have made the castle their home or base, including Anne of Brittany (Queen of France). The famous Cardinal Richelieu (from the 3 Musketeers novels) was one of the biggest influencers of the building of this fortress, as was Vauban (who built many of France’s castles).

BuildingBuildingArcherWallsDungeonBuildingCourtyardCannons
Large buildings inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyLarge buildings inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Entrance to the large building inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyEntrance to the large building inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Archer posts on the defensive walls of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyArcher posts on the defensive walls of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Very wide walls of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyVery wide walls of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Dungeon Courtyard inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyDungeon Courtyard inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
One of the other buildings inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyOne of the other buildings inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
A look at the inner courtyard from the tower inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyA look at the inner courtyard from the tower inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Cannons overlooking the water inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyCannons overlooking the water inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

The fortress is enormous, one of France’s biggest. Some parts are very wide, (you can then see how thick the walls are), while other parts are wide enough for one skinny person.

NarrowFloorsStairsTowerWide
Very narrow part of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyVery narrow part of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Multiple layers of defense of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyMultiple layers of defense of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Multiple floors of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyMultiple floors of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Defensive tower of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyDefensive tower of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Very wide portion of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyVery wide portion of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

The views from the fortress walls can be quite interesting. River and harbour on one side, land of the other, but since you are perched quite high, you have a good view of the city.

CranesNavy BaseMarinaBrest cityOcean
View of the harbour cranes from the Brest Fortress/Castle in BrittanyView of the harbour cranes from the Brest Fortress/Castle in Brittany
Part of the French Navy base seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in BrittanyPart of the French Navy base seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in Brittany
Pleasure boats marina seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in BrittanyPleasure boats marina seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in Brittany
Part of Brest city seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in BrittanyPart of Brest city seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in Brittany
The ocean in the distance seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in BrittanyThe ocean in the distance seen from the Brest Fortress/Castle in Brittany

Tour Tanguy

There is one view which is particularly interesting:

Photo 1Photo 2Photo 3Photo 4Map
Tour Tanguy and a tall ship as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyTour Tanguy and a tall ship as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Close up of the Tour Tanguy as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyClose up of the Tour Tanguy as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Tour Tanguy as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyTour Tanguy as seen from the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Tour Tanguy and part of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyTour Tanguy and part of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

It’s the tower called “Tour Tanguy“. No one knows when it was built, nor who built it. Historians think it were the English who built in the 14th century. Historians don’t know either why it was built where it is.

Today, the tower houses the Museum of Old Brest.

Inside the Castle

When you are looking at the museum, you will be required to move through the castle. This is a great way of discovering the enormous fortress.

StairsIn TowerCorridor
Steep stairs inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanySteep stairs inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Inside the enormous round towers of the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyInside the enormous round towers of the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany
Narrow corridors Inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in BrittanyNarrow corridors Inside the Brest Castle/Fortress in Brittany

I don’t think the castle is adapted to people who have problems walking (wheelchairs in particular).

The Museum

The French Navy National Museum is one of 5 such museums in France, owned by the French Navy.

Entry part of the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest castle in Brittany
Entry part of the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest castle in Brittany

The museum offers guided tours (English and French), and even nighttime visits during the summer (but you will need to reserve in advance).

Mini submarine at the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest castle in Brittany
Mini submarine at the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest castle in Brittany

Exhibits are not only inside, when you walk discovering the castle, you will see other items outside.

Photo 1Photo 2Photo 3Photo 4
German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in BrittanyGerman WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in Brittany
Front part and torpedo of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in BrittanyFront part and torpedo of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in Brittany
Propulsion part of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in BrittanyPropulsion part of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in Brittany
Rear view of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in BrittanyRear view of a German WWII midget submarine (Seehund) as seen at the French Navy National Museum in the Brest Castle in Brittany

This is a German WWII midget-submarine. It could hold two crew.

The museum has many small scale models on display, from centuries ago to very recent Navy ships.

Sail WarshipSubmarineWarshipCarrier3-MasterWig
Old warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleOld warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
French submarine scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleFrench submarine scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
Modern French warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleModern French warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
French helicopter carrier warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleFrench helicopter carrier warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
Old three mast sail warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleOld three mast sail warship scale model as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
A wig in the shape of a sailship as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleA wig in the shape of a sailship as shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle

Obviously there is much, much more to see, from old wooden statues, to equipment onboard of the French Navy ships.

StatuesStatueCrew stationEngine Control
Wooden statues shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleWooden statues shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
Wooden statue shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleWooden statue shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
Mockup of a French Navy crew quarters shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleMockup of a French Navy crew quarters shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle
Engine control of a French Navy vessel shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest CastleEngine control of a French Navy vessel shown in the French Navy National Museum inside the Brest Castle

Conclusion

Visiting the Brest Castle/Fortress and subsequent French Navy National Museum should be on the top of your list when visiting the area. You’ll be able to spend several hours, no matter what age you are.

Click here to access the museum’s website for more information. (in French only, translations do NOT work)

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