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Origin and history

The Solidor Tower, built between 1369 and 1382 on the order of Duke Jean IV of Brittany, is a 33-metre fortified dungeon located on a rocky advance at the mouth of the Rance, in the Saint-Servan district of Saint-Malo. It was intended to control navigation and levy taxes on goods, in a context in which Saint Malo was rebelling against the ducal authority. Built on the remains of an ancient tower of Oreigle (or Tour Aiquin), itself erected on Gallo-Roman fortifications of the fourth century, it symbolized the takeover of the duchy by the Montforts after the War of Succession of Brittany.

Over the centuries, the Solidor Tower has played various military and strategic roles. In 1588, it was taken by the Malouins on behalf of the Duke of Mercœur, head of the Ligue de Bretagne, before being rearranged in the 17th century under Louis XIII and integrated into the defences of Saint-Malo by engineer Simeon Garangeau. In 1756 his drawbridge was replaced by a stone bridge. During the Revolution and the Empire, it served as a prison, welcoming priests, religious and military, as evidenced by the graffiti still visible on the doors of the cells.

Ranked a historic monument in 1886, the Solidor Tower was restored by architect Albert Ballu, who gave it its current roof. From 1970 to 2019, it housed a museum dedicated to cap-horners, celebrating long-term navigation. Today, it still dominates the Rance estuary, close to the Gallo-Roman remains of the city of Aleth, visible at low tide. Its history reflects the military, economic and cultural evolutions of Brittany, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

The tower also inspired many artists, including painters Maximilien Luce, Bernard Buffet and André Wilder, who represented him throughout different eras. Its architecture, blending medieval heritage and subsequent modifications, makes it a symbol of Breton maritime and defensive heritage. Archaeological excavations revealed no level of Viking occupation, but confirmed its central role in monitoring the estuary and controlling river trade.

In 1967, the commissioning of the Rance dam ended the ferry that connected Saint-Malo to Dinard from the Solidor hold. Today, the tower remains a major testimony of Breton history, combining military, economic and cultural functions throughout the centuries.

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