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The Castle illuminated
© Alain Guillard (Château des ducs de Bretagne)
The Castle on summer time
If you haven't already experienced the night-time illuminations at the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the extended opening time to 11 pm on some evenings is an opportunity to enjoy a closer look at this new feature.
It has been designed by Sylvie Sieg and Pierre Nègre of Atelier Lumière, specialists in the illumination of sites, buildings and monuments. Their intention is to reveal the building's full architectural complexity whilst situating it in its urban environment.
© Alain Guillard (Château des ducs de Bretagne)
Lighting to create a space open to the city
The challenge was to illuminate the Castle, an emblematic monument for Nantes, not as an object closed in on itself, but as a space open to the city. In creating its night-time image, they have moved away from a "post card" ambience, which would have illuminated just the visually beautiful aspects.
Instead, their highly contemporary lighting design is based on a double principle:
- an undulating line of red light encircles the monument: by unifying the architectural ensemble, it gives material form to the Castle watching over the city;
- a light and shade sculpture reveals the building's contrasts, highlighting both its defensive aspects and the elegance of the ducal residence with its carved décor.
Instead, their highly contemporary lighting design is based on a double principle:
- an undulating line of red light encircles the monument: by unifying the architectural ensemble, it gives material form to the Castle watching over the city;
- a light and shade sculpture reveals the building's contrasts, highlighting both its defensive aspects and the elegance of the ducal residence with its carved décor.