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Origin and history

The Papegaud Tower is a medieval square tower located in Fougères, northwest of the church of Saint-Léonard. It is part of the town's urban enclosure, integrated with the city's southern and western walls. These ramparts, along the valley of Nançon, linked the castle of Fougères to the hillside of Saint-Léonard. With the Notre Dame Gate and the Nichot Tower, it reinforced the natural defences formed by the river and the rocky escarpments.

Probably built in the 13th century, the tower derives its name from the Papegai game, a target for crossbow shooting. Later, under the Ancien Régime, it was acquired by the surgeon community, linked to the nearby Saint-Nicolas Hospital (destroyed in 1865). In 1781 it was purchased by General François René Jean de Pommereul, before being confiscated during his emigration. It became a communal property and was listed as a historical monument in 1926.

The tower appears in Les Chouans de Balzac, where it serves as a framework for the plot around Marie de Verneuil and the Marquis de Montauran. Although the house described was fictitious, Balzac was inspired by his stay in Fougères in 1828, guided by the family of Pommereul, former owners. The surrounding places (Nançon Valley, Saint-Léonard Church) correspond to the Romanesque descriptions.

Today, the tower is heavily damaged and retains a heritage value linked to its defensive role and literary evocation. Its inscription in 1926 underlines its historical importance, between military architecture and Breton cultural heritage.

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