Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The porte d'Embas, also known as the gate of En-Bas, is a fortified building located in the historic centre of Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine. Originally built in the 13th century as an integral part of the city walls, it was almost entirely rebuilt in the 15th century to house the town house of Vitré. Today, only a few elements remain, including a section of a shale wall and a south tower partially modified in the 19th century to give it a medieval look.

The original structure consisted of two different towers with mâchicoulis and a horse iron barbacan, the shape of which was visually restored in 1998 thanks to slabs of distinct colours on Place Saint-Yves. A casemate for firearms and a 15th century fireplace, reflecting municipal use, are still visible in adjacent buildings. The gate was listed as a historic monument in 1926, then the entire urban enclosure in 2014.

In the 19th century, the south tower was loomed and its upper part rebuilt to imitate the medieval style, with schist machicoulis. A painting of this time, reproduced on an explanatory plate, shows its appearance then. The 1998 archaeological excavations allowed the contours of the barbacan to be materialized on the ground, providing a visual reading of its historical route.

The current remains also include a 15th-century municipal hall, identifiable by a fireplace suspended on the third floor, and a boxmate integrated into the toilet of a nearby restaurant. These elements illustrate the evolution of the gate, moving from a defensive work to a place of civilian power, before its preservation as a historical heritage.

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