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Origin and history

Pirmil Castle, also known as Pirmil Fortress or Pirmil Tower, was built in 1364 or 1365 by order of Duke John IV of Brittany, at the initiative of Admiral Nicolas Bouchart. Located at the southern end of the Pirmil bridge at Nantes, it provided defence for this strategic point, the only "bridge line" allowing easy crossing of the Loire to its left bank. This crossing was the last before the estuary, making the castle vital for the protection of the city from assaults coming from the south.

The fortress adopts an irregular quadrilateral plan, composed of three towers (including the massive tower of the Duke, cylindrical and built on the head of the bridge), connected by crenelated courtines with mâchicoulis. The northern side, along the Loire River, houses the main tower, while the Sèvre Tower dominates the eponymous river to the west. The entrance, to the south, is protected by a chestnut sheltering guard corps, kitchens and prisons. The ensemble, lined with moat, illustrates Breton military architecture of the 14th century, designed to resist seats and control river access.

The castle derives its name from the suburb of Pirmil (now the Saint-Jacques district), whose etymology dates back to the Latin Pila milliaria (Roman Mile). Built at the end of the War of Succession of Brittany, it was taken several times by the French, notably in 1372 by Bertrand Du Guesclin, who returned it to the Duke in 1382 via the Treaty of Guérande. The fortress changed hands many times before losing its strategic role after the Union of Brittany to France in 1532.

Dismantled in 1626 to facilitate access to the bridge, the castle was partially reused in 1793 during the Battle of Nantes: the Republicans set up a battery to counter the vendean troops of Charette and Lyrot. The last vestiges disappeared in 1839 when Pirmil Square was enlarged. Its history reflects the military tensions between Brittany, France and England, as well as its adaptation to revolutionary conflicts.

The position of captain of Pirmil, placed under the authority of the governor of Nantes, was occupied by figures such as Nicolas Bouchart (his builder), Olivier de Clisson (after 1372), or Hercules de Rohan-Montbazon (1598–1616). After 1626, the title became honorary, linked to the governor of the city. The captains, often noble or duke officers, embodied Breton military power in this stronghold.

Pirmil Castle is part of a wider defensive network, including the Pirmil Bridge and the New Tower. Its architecture and history make it a symbol of the struggles for control of the Loire and Nantes, between Breton independence and integration into the Kingdom of France. Its dismantling in the 17th century marked the end of its operational role, but its memory continued in the Nantes toponymy.

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