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Origin and history

The archaeological site of Montbourcher Wood is a former medieval fortification located in the municipality of Vignoc, Ille-et-Vilaine (Bretagne). Dated from the 11th century, it consists of a castral moth of 28 meters in diameter at its base and 6 meters in height, surrounded by a dry ditch of 3 meters deep. A crescent-shaped bassyard, 22 metres wide, is bounded by a rise of land and a ditch. An oval enclosure of 32 meters by 20, located 50 meters north, completes the whole.

The first written mention of the parish of Vignoc dates back to the 11th century, when it depended on the seigneury of Montbourcher. The lords, mentioned in 1040, exercised the right of high justice over the village from this motte, seat of their power. In the 13th century, they transferred their residence to the Château de La Roche-Montbourcher in Cuguen. The site, which has been listed as historical monuments since 18 September 1995, bears witness to the local feudal organization.

Located on the edge of the forest, 300 metres from the farm of Montbourcher, the site illustrates medieval defensive architecture. The sommital platform of the moth, lined with stones, and the surrounding ditches reveal typical construction techniques of the era. The remains, although partially preserved, offer an overview of the Breton seigneurial structures of the 11th century.

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