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Origin and history

Porh-Puns Fort is a military fortification on the west coast of the Gavres peninsula in Morbihan. Originally built in 1695 under the impulse of the Marquis de Lavardin, it takes the form of a battery equipped with 10 guns and 2 mortars. Its primary objective is to protect the citadel of Port-Louis and the harbour of Lorient, then in full growth thanks to the Compagnie des Indes installed since 1666. Its strategic location allows to cross its shots with those of Fort Locqueltas, on the opposite bank.

In the 18th century, the battery was replaced by a more imposing fort, supplemented in 1846 by a guard corps that could accommodate 60 soldiers. The site underwent restoration in the 1870s, reinforcing its defensive role in the face of maritime threats, mainly English. Its horseshoe architecture, with a ditch and a drawbridge, reflects the military techniques of the time, with a firing platform facing the sea, west and north.

Unarmed after World War II, the fort was acquired in 2007 by the Syndicat Mixée du Grand Site Gâvres Quiberon, marking the end of its military use. Since 2017, it has been fully listed as historic monuments, recognizing its heritage importance. Today, it bears witness to four centuries of Breton military history, linked to the protection of the strategic ports of Port Louis and Lorient.

The site is part of a preserved coastal landscape, 400 metres west of the church of Saint-Gildas de Gâvres. Its current management is the joint Union Dunes Wildes de Gâvres in Quiberon, which ensures its conservation and tourist development, while respecting its historical integrity.

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