Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Porte Notre-Dame, also known as Porte Saint-Sulpice or du Chesnay, is the only preserved gate of the four that composed the medieval enclosure of Fougères. Located south-east of the castle, it connected the Bass City and the Ville-Close, between the streets Le Bouteiller and the Fourchette. Its strategic location, near the Roulard pond and an arm of the Nançon, made it a key defence point, reinforced by two drawbridges now missing.

The present building, built from 1477, replaces an older door of the same name, located further east. During the Revolution it was renamed Gate of the Convention. Ranked a historic monument since 1862 as an integral part of the castle of Fougères, it illustrates the evolution of urban fortifications between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its architecture combines a carriageway door and a pedestrian door, topped by mâchicoulis and a niche housing a reproduction of Virgin to Child from the 14th century.

The Porte Notre-Dame is located between two defensive towers: the Tower of Pleguen (XIVth century) and the Tower of La Tremoille (XVth century). Its large-scale wall, partially ruined slots and drawbridge grooves testify to its military role. Although lacking herse, it symbolizes the transition between medieval defensive systems and subsequent adaptations, such as its revolutionary renunciation.

The monument is now protected by the ramparts, from the Notre-Dame gate to the Papegault tower, including the remaining round road. Property shared between the state and private individuals, there is still an identity marker of Fougères, linked to its urban and castral history. The historical sources, such as the works of the Viscount Le Bouteiller or of Émile Putrel, underline its importance in the Breton heritage.

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