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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Papegault tower, located in Montfort-sur-Meu in Ille-et-Vilaine, is the only vestige of a castle built in the 14th century, after it was taken over to the English by Raoul VIII of Brittany between 1376 and 1389. Dated precisely from 1389, it was incorporated into a enclosure re-established between 1440 and 1480, before being partially destroyed in 1627 by order of Richelieu. The tower, massive and equipped with two turrets (one square housing latrines, the other polygonal with a staircase), combines circular rooms in the basement and octagonal floors, crowned with mâchicoulis.

The tower derives its name from the game of Papegai, a traditional shot reserved for the local bourgeois militia, formalized in 1482 and abolished in 1770. The winner enjoyed privileges. This dungeon also served as a prison, and then housed the Broceliande ecomuseum from 1984 to 2015. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1926, it now belongs to the commune and stands near the church of Saint-Louis-Marie-Grignion-de-Montfort, on the banks of the Garun River.

Architecturally, the tower illustrates late medieval defensive techniques, with its top floor in retreat and its four-resault mâchicoulis. Its polygonal turret staircase and integrated latrines reflect a functional design, typical of the Breton dungeons of the late 14th century. The partial destruction of the castle in 1627 is part of the policy of dismantling the internal fortresses under Richelieu, aimed at weakening the local authorities.

The site, located 11 rue de Hennau, retains a geographical accuracy considered satisfactory (level 7/10). Its strategic location, between the church and the Garun, highlights its central role in the medieval urban organization of Montfort-sur-Meu, a city marked by its Breton ducal history and its conflicts with England.

Future

Former prison in the 19th and 20th centuries, Papegault Tower is not visited.

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