Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The tower of the Connétable, built in the first half of the 15th century in Vannes, was part of the city's ramparts and was intended to house the head of the armies of the Duke of Brittany. His name comes from this position, with Arthur III of Brittany, known as the "Connétable de Richemont", as the most famous representative. Although fortified with artillery casesmates, his initial role was residential rather than purely defensive. It was located near the castle of the Hermine, now disappeared, and seems to have contributed to its defense.

The tower has had various uses over the centuries. After losing its military interest in 1676, it became a municipal prison in 1786, welcoming mentally unstable people and detainees. During the Revolution and the caulianry, she served as a prison for the noble Bretons involved in the Quiberon landing case. In the 19th century, it was privatized and used as a repository of antiques, meeting room, rehearsal, and even teaching.

Ranked a historical monument in 1927 thanks to the intervention of local associations, the tower was restored after 1975, when the city of Vannes became its owner. Today, it hosts exhibitions and guided tours. Its architecture combines defensive elements (mâchicoulis, round road) and residential elements (polygonal rooms, monumental fireplaces). The tower has become a symbol of Vannes, often represented in the arts and highlighted as a tourist attraction.

The tower is distinguished by its integration into the second enclosure of Vannes, between the Powder Tower and the Garenne. It is visible from several intramural points (place Lucien Laroche, rue du Rempart) and extramural points (rue Francis Decker, promenade de la Garenne). Its spiral staircase, sill windows and pointed roof make it a remarkable example of medieval military architecture suitable for residential use.

In the 20th century, the tower benefited from a tourist development, notably under the impetus of Mayor Francis Decker, who built the former moat in a French garden after the Second World War. A postage stamp issued in 1962 immortalized its illuminated image, highlighting its heritage importance. Local legends, such as the supposed imprisonment of Olivier de Clisson in 1387, were denied by historians, the construction of the tower being after this event.

External links