Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 14th-century medieval castle, including a moat, hidden beneath the courtyard of a historic hotel in France. Jewelry, pots, pans and padlocks were among the artifacts recovered, offering clues about the nobility who used the castle for nearly a century.
In spring 2023, archaeologists at the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) excavated the courtyard and cellars of the Lagorce Hotel, which was built in the 18th century atop the ruins of a medieval castle known as the Château de l'Hermine. The castle, located in Vannes, a village on the west coast of the Brittany region, was built as a fortress and residence for John IV, Duke of Brittany, in 1381.
