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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The medieval enclosure known as the "Huitrière", located at Saint-Suliac on the banks of the Rance, is a hexagonal earth cut-off, measuring about 120 by 140 meters. Its particularity lies in its establishment in a maritime area, covered by the sea during high tides. No systematic archaeological excavation has been carried out to date, making its precise dating difficult. The rare discoveries, made at the end of the 19th century by a concessional ostrianist of the site, include iron objects, bones and wooden remains, suggesting an ancient occupation.

The site is interpreted as a Norman cleavage, with structural similarities to the Old M'na camp in Trans (Ille-et-Vilaine), notably by its steep slopes with trapezoidal section. Some historians propose to identify this place in Gardoyne or Gardayne, quoted in the Roman of Aquin (XII century) as a Norman site. A toponymic study supports this hypothesis, although it remains debated. Today, the enclosure is integrated into the area granted to EDF for the Rance Dam and has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1986.

The location of the Hierarchy, in a maritime and strategic environment, raises questions about its role: coastal defence, refuge, or river lane control. Its state of conservation and access are now conditioned by its status as a maritime public domain and its proximity to modern infrastructure. The accuracy of its location is considered poor (note 5/10), reflecting the continuing uncertainty about its history and exact function.

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