The megaliths
With more than 550 megalithic sites, it is impossible to miss these granite structures in the Morbihan, the alignments of menhirs of Carnac being considered as the largest in the world. Dating from the Neolithic period, they are certainly the first known architectural act. The alignments are notably organized from east to west, from the smallest to the largest, without us knowing the causes to this day. Many megaliths are associated with burials, such as dolmens (vertical stones supporting horizontal slabs), cairns (heaps of stones) or tumuli (covering a grave with stones and earth).
Medieval architecture
Vannes, capital of Morbihan, classified as a City of Art and History, is worth a visit. Numerous buildings bear witness to its history. The ramparts, built on Gallo-Roman remains, are a reminder of the city's need to cope with conflicts over the centuries. Since the 20th century, efforts have been made to preserve these rare urban fortifications. It is a unique example of a city that has a long history of development, with a long history of human settlement and a long history of economic and social development.
The medieval period was marked by Christianity, and Saint-Pierre Cathedral was rebuilt in the 11th century after its destruction in the 10th century during the Norman invasions, as was Saint-Patern Church, which bears the name of the city's first bishop. Both buildings evolved over the centuries. Saint-Pierre Cathedral, which became Gothic in the 15th century, retains its structure from the Romanesque period, with its nave, choir and chapels. Work continued for centuries, and it was classified as a historical monument in 1906. The church of Saint-Patern, for its part, was affected by climatic conditions and was rebuilt in the 18th century and restored in 2007-2008 in a baroque style.
From the medieval Vannes, we keep other buildings, such as the Château-Gaillard, whose construction was completed in 1410. The bishop Jean de Malestroit lived there before it became the seat of Parliament in the 16th century and then the museum of history and archaeology today. The present-day Vannes Museum of Fine Arts is also of medieval origin, and was then a market place called "la cohue". The narrow streets of the town centre, with their timber-framed houses that we particularly like for their very "medieval" aspect, were built in the 15th and 16th centuries, i.e. during the Renaissance. The ground floor of these houses serves as a business and as a solid base, made of granite, for the upper floors, which house dwellings and are often sloping, supported by corbels.Other medieval monuments in Morbihan
If we had to name only one, the Domaine de Suscinio would stand out as the most emblematic of the medieval architectural treasures of Morbihan. This fortress erected on the Rhuys peninsula has more than eight centuries of history behind it. Attracting many visitors today, the castle was the residence of the Dukes of Brittany after having been a hunting lodge and a Benedictine priory. You can admire its towers, moats, drawbridge, curtains, loopholes ..
A few kilometers from Vannes, <a href="etbspf_id:388780" title="FORTRESS OF LARGOËT - THE TOWERS OF ELVEN">the Fortress of Largoët </a> also stands out as a high place of the medieval period, with its high octagonal keep, its walls up to 9 meters thick, its drawbridge... It crosses the centuries and sees in particular the dukes of Brittany disputing its property (Blois and Montfort) or encouraging its restoration (Anne of Brittany). If conflicts and time cause its dilapidation, Prosper Mérimée has it classified as a historical monument in 1862 and saves it from demolition. </p> The small towns of character and villages of the department still contribute to this temporal disorientation, such as La Gacilly (where the craft tradition of the Middle Ages endures), Josselin (and its many medieval events), Malestroit, Guémené-sur-Scorff or even places like the small port of Saint-Goustan in Auray. The architecture of the chapels, churches, shops, but also the gargoyles and the cobbled streets contribute to this unique atmosphere.
The Renaissance and the Rohan family
At that time, the noble lineage of the Rohan family actively contributed to the architecture of the department, as true patrons. How can we not mention one of the most admired residences of this family, the castle of Josselin? If the original building was built in the Middle Ages and underwent many changes, it was in the 16th century that the house took a decisive turn, with the extremely refined renovation carried out by Jean II de Rohan. Its facade becomes one of the first examples of the Renaissance in France, with decorative motifs carved in granite of great finesse. This castle still belongs to Rohan, whose successive generations have devoted to the renovation, such as Duke Alain de Rohan in the 1860s.
The castle of Pontivy is also one of the most remarkable, and a reliable witness of the architecture of the castles of the 15th and 16th centuries in Brittany: thick walls, imposing circular towers at the corners of a rectangular structure, ditches ..Contemporary period: military and religious architecture
The Morbihan also has many military forts built on the islands and peninsulas of the territory in the 19th century, and ensuring a defensive position. The forts of Porh Puns in Gâvres, Penthièvre in Quiberon or Port Maria on Belle-Île-en-Mer are different examples. The citadel of Port-Louis is distinguished by its history and its architecture. It protects the roadstead of Lorient and is linked to the history of the Compagnie des Indes, of which it now houses the museum.
A major building of our time is the sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray, built at the end of the 19th century. This sumptuous neo-Gothic monument is fascinating, with its stained glass windows, its height, its sculptures... It is a major place of pilgrimage where Saint Anne, patron saint of Brittany, is celebrated during the Grand Pardon on 26 July.
