The ruined keep and flanking towers of the Château d'Ancenis stand on a bluff above the Loire, their pale stone visible from the river and the opposite bank. Built in the tenth century and extended through the medieval period, the castle guarded one of the Loire's most strategic crossings — the point where Brittany, Anjou, and the old road south converged.
The interior is now partly open to the public and partly occupied by a private residence, which gives the place an unusual lived-in quality. The outer ramparts can be walked, and the views over the river from the top of the surviving tower make the short climb worthwhile. The moat still holds water on the landward side.
The castle is free to visit. Enter from the town side via the Rue du Château.