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Origin and history

The Trompette Tower is part of the walls of Vannes, a fortified complex built between the third and seventeenth centuries to protect the city. She derives her name from the herald (trumpet) of Vannes, who housed there. Its base dates from the 14th century, while its upper floors were built in the 15th century, during the extension of the enclosure under the Dukes of Brittany. The tower features typical Breton mâchicoulis, with arches on consoles supporting a crenelated parapet.

In 1597, the tower was set on fire by Spanish troops sent to support the Duke of Mercœur during the Catholic League wars. This event earned him the nickname of Burn Tower. It illustrates the late defensive reinforcements of the ramparts, then adapted to artillery. Like other elements of the fortifications, it was partially masked by modern urbanization, but remains a key vestige of Breton military architecture.

The walls of Vannes, of which the Trompette Tower is an emblematic element, were classified as historical monuments between 1912 and 1958. Their preservation is the result of a citizen mobilization in the early twentieth century, notably after the threat of destruction of the Prison Gate in 1911. Today, the tower is integrated into a heritage trail that highlights the medieval and reborn history of the city, between Gambetta Square and the port.

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