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Origin and history

The former fortifications of Quintin are part of the history of a strong city dating back to the 13th century, built on the site of a Gallo-Roman castrum. In the 17th century, the construction of a castle was undertaken in 1645, but remained unfinished after a royal order in 1662. Only the south tower, accompanied by a covered circular staircase, is finally completed, while its circular neighbour remains incomplete. This set illustrates the evolution of urban defences between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

The defensive structure is characterized by an alley lined with walls to the east, accessible by successive degrees and bearings between the towers. A high square, with ground granite balusters, allows northward traffic, complemented by a baluster ramp on a wall. The present wooded space preserves the traces of the former fortifications, including the two towers of the New Gate and associated remains, protected since 1951. These elements reflect the site's topographical and strategic adaptation.

Quintin, in Brittany, thus embodies an example of a fortified city whose development spans centuries, marking the landscape with military and urban developments. The unfinished castle and the partial ramparts bear witness to tensions between local ambitions and royal decisions in the 17th century, when the state gradually centralizes the control of fortifications. The inscription in 1951 under the title of Historical Monuments highlights the heritage value of these remains, now shared between communal and private property.

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