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Origin and history

Domfront, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, is a defensive system that surrounds the medieval city centre. Originally composed of 24 round towers and four doors (including the Alençon Gate), it protected the city built around a wooden castle founded around 1014 by Guillaume de Bellême. Between 1289 and 1304 Robert II d'Artois had the current towers built, while Pierre d'Alençon added the Alençon Gate in 1382. The ramparts, partially dismantled in 1610 after submission to Henri IV, served as headquarters in 1795 during the Vendée wars.

The fortress suffered several notable seats: in 1204 under Philippe Auguste, then during the Wars of Religion, where it was taken by the Count of Matignon and Gabriel I of Montgomery. In the 17th century, the ramparts, which had become obsolete, were sold to private individuals. Of the 24 original towers, 14 remain today, integrated into houses or visible in streets such as Montgomery Street or the Fossess Plisson Promenade. The remains, including the Guérin-L-writer and Coroller towers, were classified as historical monuments in 1929 and 1988.

The bombings of 1944 saved some of the remains, allowing us to distinguish the route of the enclosure. The towers, often drowned in the urban structure, bear witness to medieval military architecture with their machicoulis and cylindrical bases. The Briere Gate, with its two twin towers (Godras Towers), and the northern poterne illustrate the defensive ingenuity of the time. The enclosure thus reflects nearly 700 years of history, from feudal conflicts to the French Revolution.

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