Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Vitré station, built between 1855 and 1857 by architect Victor Lenoir, is a unique neo-Gothic building, combining tuffeau and brick. Its style, inspired by medieval castles, integrates into the city centre and contrasts with the standardized stations of the period. The architect, also the designer of the former Montparnasse station in Paris, designed a rectangular building flanked by a schauguettes and covered by a slate, evoking the walls of Vitré. Its establishment led to the destruction of the southern ramparts and the urban transformation of the inner-mural districts, with the opening of north-south roads such as Garengeot Street.

Inaugurated in 1857 during Napoleon III's passage, the station quickly became a major railway node. It marks the culmination of the Paris-Montparnasse – Brest line and the starting point of two secondary lines: Vitré – Pontorson (1867) and Martigné-Ferchaud – Vitré (1874). These lines, now partially closed, linked Vitré to Mont Saint-Michel and the region of La Guerche-de-Bretagne. A viaduct overla Vilaine was built for the line towards Fougères, while the station itself was enlarged in 1882 to accommodate more passengers.

The station, registered as a Historical Monument since 29 October 1975, underwent restorations in 2009 and 2010 to preserve its facades. Its historic role extends beyond transport: its installation has changed the urban landscape by removing a medieval suburb, replaced by the current north parking lot. Today, it remains an active multimodal hub, served by TGVs and TERs, with an increasing attendance of 735,000 trips in 2008. The issue of the reopening of the Vitré – Fougères line is resurfaced, driven by sustainable development issues.

Architecturally, the station is distinguished by its neo-Gothic style, rare among French stations, and its alternation of materials (stone and brick). It recalls the medieval heritage of Vitré, a town close to Brittany. Modern equipment, such as the PMR bridge inaugurated in 2014, coexist with this heritage. The site also houses offices (building B-3000) and an exchange hub integrating bus, parking and bicycle park, strengthening its central role in regional mobility.

Culturally, the station marked the collective imagination, as evidenced by the filming of the band Fake's Brick clip in 1985, featuring locomotive 141 R 1199. The successive closures of the secondary lines (1972 for Vitré – Fougères and Vitré – La Guerche) reduced its railway role, but part of the line towards Fougères remained for freight. Today, the station embodies both an industrial heritage of the 19th century and a contemporary issue of sustainable mobility in Brittany.

External links