Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The citadel of the Palais, located in Belle-Île-en-Mer, dominates the municipality of the same name. Its origin dates back to a 14th century medieval fort, then owned by the Sainte-Croix Abbey of Quimperlé. In the sixteenth century, François de Rohan-Gié erected a stronghold there, before Albert de Gondi, Duke of Retz, rebuilt it in 1549 under Henry II, using the stones of the castle of the Hermine in Vannes. Nicolas Fouquet, although never arrived on the spot, financed works via Daigremont, including a pavilion now known as Château Fouquet.

Vauban, in 1683, criticized the layout of the premises and designed a six-base enclosure, of which only the citadel would be realized. During the Seven Years' War (1761-1763), the British took over after a siege. The citadel is also used as a prison, especially for the accomplices of the Poisons and revolutionaries such as Blanqui and Barbes in the 19th century. Decommissioned militarily in 1933, it was sold in 1960 to André and Anna Larquetoux, who restored it entirely and created a museum there.

In the 19th century, Napoleon III completed a neoclassical urban enclosure around the Palais, supplementing the fortifications that had become obsolete in the face of modern artillery. The citadel, classified as Historic Monument in 2007, now houses museums, a hotel and remains of its prison and military uses. Its wall of Haute-Boulogne, built in 1848 to lock political prisoners, and its arsenal of 1780 testify to its turbulent history.

The Larquetoux Restoration (1960-1990) saved 5.5 km of walls, barracks and basements, with the help of military archives and architect Philippe Prost. The site, sold in 2001 to the Savry Group and in 2020 to Keys Asset Management, remains a symbol of Breton heritage. Despite applications for UNESCO World Heritage, it is not yet included.

The citadel also includes related elements such as the Belle Fontaine (1703), a classified water reservoir, and the Ramonette Fort. During the two world wars, it served in turn as a prison for German soldiers (1914-1918) and then as a Nazi occupation (1940-1945), before becoming a major cultural and tourist site again.

Future

The citadel is open to visit and includes a museum on the history of Belle-Île, with a beautiful collection of ancient maps of Brittany, as well as a hotel and restaurant.

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