Archaeologists have discovered a long-lost but amazingly well preserved 640-year-old castle – directly underneath a popular French hotel. They recently found a 14th-century building under the courtyard of Hotel Lagorce in Vannes,
France. It has been identified as the Château de l'Hermine and was built by John IV the Conqueror in the 1380s. Excavations were carried out in the spring and autumn of 2023, and archaeologists were astonished by how well preserved the castle's remains were. The National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research said: “The excavation revealed little by little. The ducal house was 42 metres long and 17 metres wide and was equipped with walls of an exceptional thickness. A ducal house refers to a house inhabited by a duke, which John IV was. Directly bordered by a moat, it is flanked to the west of what one can call a ‘square tower.’” Dunelm's 'comfortable' £199 hanging egg chair is back in stock The 14th-century castle was under the courtyard of Hotel Lagorce in Vannes, France. ( Image: Jam Press / INRAP) Researchers also found several staircases, one of which was remarkably preserved with a decorated core and three steps. They also discovered many objects which relate to daily life in the castle, including clothing, jewellery, coins, padlocks, and cooking pots. They said: “In addition, archaeologists conducted a deep survey in the moat. From this very wet material, they extracted rich furniture. The humidity of the area is said to have also preserved wooden items and fragments of barrels. Archaeologists were stunned by how well-reserved the castle's remains were ( Image: Jam Press / INRAP) INRAP have also said that the site was incredibly well-managed. A spokesperson said: “The homogeneity of the materials used for the construction of the castle and the standardisation of the modules show a mastery of the management of the site throughout the operating chain, from the extraction of stone to its implementation. The construction took place in a single phase, which testifies to the importance of the financial and human resources used. The archaeology team at work on the site ( Image: Jam Press / INRAP) “The remains indicate that John IV knew how to surround himself with the best engineers and craftsmen of their time.” The Mirror reported in 2019 how archeologists have discovered a large palace likely used by the Mayan elite more than 1,000 years ago. The ruins were discovered n the ancient city of Kuluba, near the modern day tourist hot spot of Cancun in eastern
Mexico, Mexican anthropology officials said. The castle has been identified as the Château de l'Hermine and was built by John IV the Conqueror in the 1380s ( Image: Jam Press / INRAP) The remains of the six-metre high building, 55 metre (180 feet) long and 15 metres wide, suggest the palace was inhabited for two long periods between 600-1050 A.D., the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said in a statement. The Mayan civilization reached its peak between 250 and 900 A.D., when it ruled large swaths of what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. The palace was discovered in the east of the Kuluba archaeological zone, a key pre-Hispanic site in Mexico's Yucatan state. "This work is the beginning, we've barely began uncovering one of the most voluminous structures on the site," archeologist Alfredo Barrera said in a video shared by INAH. Kuluba had important ties with the Maya cities of Ek' Balam and more crucially, Chichen Itza, falling under its influence and becoming part of its network of trade and territory.