Construction of site XIe siècle (≈ 1150)
Period of construction of the fortified complex.
Fin du XIe siècle
First text reference
First text reference Fin du XIe siècle (≈ 1195)
Site quoted in writings.
8 septembre 1995
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 8 septembre 1995 (≈ 1995)
Official protection of the archaeological site.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fortified archaeological site (motte, bass-courses and associated structures) as well as the land (soil, basement and buildings) on which it is situated, that is the western part of Parcel BD 74 bounded to the east by a line from the northwest corner of Parcel BD 75 and extending northward to the lay shown in cadastre BD 39 at a point 300 metres from the intersection of that lay and departmental road number 111 of Saint-Pierre-la-Cour à Moutiers: inscription by order of 8 September 1995
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors related to this site.
Origin and history
The archaeological site of the Bois du Pinel is a medieval vestige located in the commune of Argentré-du-Plessis, Ille-et-Vilaine, in the Brittany region. This site, dating from the 11th century, is a typical example of defensive architecture of the time, with a central motte of 30 meters in diameter, surrounded by low-courses and ditches. It is now covered by the pinel wood, which gave it its name.
The fortified complex consists of a motte with a glacis to the northeast, a horse-iron bassyard of 110 m2 to the east, protected by a slope and two ditches, and a second semi-elliptic bassyard of 50 m to the south. Two rectangular cutouts, surrounded by ditches and considered later, complete the device. The site is established on a wooded plateau, which reinforced its strategic position.
The site is mentioned in texts from the end of the 11th century. It was listed as historic monuments on 8 September 1995, recognizing its heritage importance. Today it belongs to a private company and its access can be restricted. The precise location of the site is estimated to be mediocre (level 5/10), but it remains a valuable testimony of medieval defensive structures in Brittany.
Archaeological excavations and studies, such as those conducted by Michel Brand'honneur in 1990, have helped to better understand the organization of these medieval mots in Ille-et-Vilaine. The Bois du Pinel site illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques and the spatial organization of seigneurial ensembles of this period.
The site is protected in its entirety, including soil, basement and any buildings, on a defined part of the Cadastral Parcel BD 74. This protection also covers the ancillary structures, stressing the importance of preserving the entire archaeological context for future studies.
