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Origin and history

The walls of Ploërmel are the remains of a fortified enclosure erected in the 11th century under the impulse of the local lord Eudes de Porhoët. His son Eudon continued the work, but the fortifications, probably ruined in the next century, were rebuilt in 1175 under Duke Geoffroy II. This 2-hectare horse iron enclosure was protected by 12 towers and moat, with thick walls of 2.5 to 3 metres in flat stones. The doors were flanked by twin towers, typical of medieval Breton military architecture.

Over the centuries, the ramparts suffered extensive damage, especially during the wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, with a last siege in 1594. From the 18th century, peace returned, the inhabitants used stones as a quarry, accelerating their degradation. In 1754, Governor Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis ordered their systematic demolition, reducing the enclosure to some remains: the Thabors tower (with its courtine), the Bembro tower and facades on the Sénéchal-Perret square. These elements were finally listed as historical monuments in 1995.

The medieval enclosure, now almost disappeared, illustrates the evolution of defensive techniques in Brittany. Its remaining towers, although reshaped, recall its strategic role in a region marked by feudal conflicts and then the wars of Religion. The moat, which has been filled for a long time, and the partially dismantled walls testify to the urban transformations and changing needs of the city, which have passed from a stronghold to a peaceful village.

The current remains, located on Mystringue Street, Alphonse-Guérin Street and Sénéchal-Perret Square, offer a limited but valuable overview of this fortification. Their inscription in 1995 preserved these fragments, although their condition reflects centuries of neglect and reuse of materials. The walls of Ploërmel thus embody both the past defensive power and the vulnerability of the heritage to the practical needs of successive generations.

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