Castle of Brest

The Château of Brest is the oldest monument of the town of Brest (Finistere). It is located at the mouth of the Penfeld in the middle of the one of the vastest roads of the world. Roman Castellum with the citadel this Vauban until today, the castle knew seventeen centuries of history. It preserved during all this time its original vocation of military Forteresse and remains today a strategic site of first importance. What makes, undoubtedly, of him the oldest castle-extremely in the world still in activity.

Its structure did not cease being altered with the wire of the centuries to secure itself against any terrestrial or maritime attack. Its heteroclite architecture is the result of a continual adaptation of its defenses to the developments in the technologies of Siège and armament.

An ideal geographical location

The Roads of Brest, protected well by a narrow, but sufficiently broad narrow part to allow an easy evolution of the ships, constitutes a natural shelter. Its dimensions are on an inland sea scale small, able to accommodate the largest fleets. It is so vast that one needed a port more boxed which can offer a harbor to the sailors.

This harbor it is the Penfeld river which goes down from north, of the plates of the Leon. Its lower course, sinuous, trap the blades and its banks, raised, break the gusts of winds. The boats, even of a strong tonnage can wet there in safety because space is vast and the important funds. It presents moreover the interest, at the place where it joint roads, to form a course protected by nature on three sides while the fourth remainder easy to defend. This particular geographical location confers on the site a major strategic position.

The castle is thus built on this rocky outcrop that the river dug in cliff with the mouth of its estuary. Since this place or it dominates the sea, it controls the access to Penfeld and gone up Elorn towards Landerneau while supervising a major part of the roads and its entry: the Narrow part.

It is the only natural port which the king has at sea océane. It is so advantageously laid out in any case that if it had been with the choice of its Majesty to regulate the situation and the form of it, it could not have wanted it differently.

History

At the first times

The site is attended as of the paleolithic inferior (- 300 000 front J. - C.). With the Neolithic era (- 5000/- 2000 av. J. - C.) of the farmers settle there. The coasts are known by other populations as of the Life and IVe front centuries J. - C. and the rocky outcrop is occupied at the end of the age of iron. Its remarkable situation makes it possible to make the assumption of a fortification of the site as of the protohistoire. But, the beginning of a true habitat is proven only at the time Roman. Five centuries before Jesus-Christ, people of tradesmen and skilful sailors sailing on leather boats, the Osismes, populate the area. One allots to them gold currencies, discovered around Brest, as well as an highway network former to the Roman presence in the Leon. The country of Osismes, bordered in the South by that of the Vénètes, in the East by that of Curiosolites has as a capital Vorgium (Carhaix). It corresponds roughly has our current Finistere. This end of the world (Finished terrae) will be occupied only very tardily by the Romans.

The Roman camp of Osismis - end of the III ème century

According to the discovery of currencies, it appears that the Romans were present there at least since the reign of the emperor Postumus (193-211). The Roman province of Armorique must then face the attacks of Saxon plunderers. To face the threat of cruel invasions and the bursting of the Roman empire, it becomes necessary to strengthen the coasts. It is what involve the fortification of many sites, of which that of Brest.

The Romans thus set up a defense work at the end of IIIe century. This camp reception a garrison of a thousand of troops who settle with their tète a prefect and an intended fleet has to intercept the pirate ships. Of this Castellum, a wall remains still visible today. These substructions, enchased in both curtains of the current castle, occupies an extent from 120 to 140 meters length, on an average height from 3 to 4 meters.

They leave the base of the wall. Mainly buried under the False-braie or the embankment of the carpark it remains visible on 2 to 3 meters height. Their external facing is characteristic, with the alternate use of bricks and hardcores “Opus mixtum”, sometimes laid out in fish-bones . This enclosing wall, thick of four meters, flanked of ten cylindrical turns defends the point and forms a barred spur. The absence of vestiges inside the work makes think that it was only one purely military work and not a Oppidum. The section of towers flush on the level of the ground remains visible in false the braie.

It seems that the Romans is not entirely completed the enclosure the more so as their presence was of short duration. At that time it is possible that with dimensions the sea is simply defended by a ditch and a palisade. In 1832, the foundations of a round tower, from Roman apparatus, would have been released close to the current turn of Brest.

The wall was certainly supplemented of a curtain on the three other sides, in regular trapezoid, on which ten turrets rose on each side. Of another Gallo-Roman vestige were put at the day: a Postern of 1,40 meter broad, condemned to the Middle Ages, chainings of brick and stone remain in the Madeleine tower.

Counts of Leon

After the departure of the Romans (410 -420), until the XI century, the badly known history of the castellum of Brest. The castle is always a fortified town. It belongs then to the counts de Léon. A closed city developed within the Roman enclosure. In 537, the count Elven holds his court with Brest. His/her daughter, Azenor, will be the subject of a legend which much more will make that one gives his name to the one of the turns of the castle.

About 1064 or 1065, the duke Conan II (unless it is not Leon Morvan II, Viscounts of Leon) orders the restoration of the castle, makes dig one distorted around the castle, build inside the enclosure the vault “Notre Dame de Pitié” (destroyed in 1819) and build a keep (perhaps with the northern angle of the enclosure).

In 1240, the castle passes to the hands duke of Brittany Jean I {{er}} the Russet-red and becomes an essential link of the defensive system of the duchy. Herve IV leaves the place, chief town of the counts de Léon, to avoid a confrontation and against hundred books of revenue. The loss and the attempts to recover the castle ring the knell of the county of Leon.

The castle remains unconquered the Norman ones. During this period, one built the César tower, perhaps on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman tower. It blocks any access by the rocky outcrop. One also builds the Azenor tower and the beautiful curtain which leans to with it.

Dukes of Brittany

The borough extends and leaves the castle. The two primitive boroughs are located, one on the side of Recouvrance (Right Bank) to the foot of the current Tanguy tower and the other vaster and closed in front of the castle (left bank).

Jean II, in consideration of rendered services, is made even of France by Philippe the Beautiful one. With its death engages a war of succession which will last 22 years.

In 1341, Jean, count de Montfort, half-brother of Jean III, argument the duchy of Brittany with Charles of Blois (husband of Jeanne de Penthièvre). The catch of Brest is essential for him. It must prevent that the place becomes a refuge for its enemies or that she becomes an entrance point in France for the troops of their ally, Edouard III of England. To take the castle it makes sure of a broad numerical superiority and powerful machines of seat to beat in breach the walls. The attack lasts several days. The captain of the place names Garnier de Clisson. He dies at the time of a counter-attack, trapped out of the walls, harrows dropped. The defenders capitulate under condition of having the safe life. After that, the castle will be taken never again by the force. Jean de Montfort gives in state the works which he abused and improves still defenses. The garrison is placed under the orders of Tanguy of Chastel. It builds the first enclosure of Brest.

September 7th, the court of the pars admits that Charles of Blois lends time and homage for the duchy. At the end of the year, Jean de Montfort is imprisoned in Louvre. Jeanne of Flanders, his wife, takes cover from ramparts. She dispatches an emissary at Edouard III to pass alliance. The English thus settle with the castle while benefitting from the political disorders in August 1342. Edouard III control of this fact the sea route which borrow their military convoys and the merchant fleets towards Aquitaine of 1342 to 1397. Guillaume de Rohan, count de Northampton, occupy the place with the title of general lieutenant of Brittany. Edouard III joined them in Brest two months to support the rights of Jean IV later.

The treaty of Guérande of the concluded April 12th, 1365 that from now on the women could claim with the duchy of Brittany only to the defect of all legitimate males and the House of Brittany. Jean de Montfort pays homage to Charles V Consequently., Edouard III does not have more reason to maintain his presence But the place is too important to yield it. Montfort remains depending financially on England. Charles V decides to exempt it to take part in the fight in which it launches out against Edouard III. But Montfort makes double game and passes a treaty on February 21st, 1372 to open its grounds with the English troops while at the same time Duguesclin and Clisson involves Brittany against them. Concarneau is removed.

In spring the Breton lords seize the principal places of the duchy, denounce their suzerain and line up with dimensions one of king de France. The constable Of Guesclin is charged to drive out English. The lords join around the Viscount of Rohan. Montfort flees Brest for England on April 28th, 1373. The constable goes from victory in victory. He takes again Concarneau and presents finally in August in front of the castle. The command is ensured by it by Sir John de Neville under the authority of general lieutenant Robert Knowles. Robert Kermoulés and Fenville, famous English captains, defend the place. Of Guesclin, after three weeks of seat is appropriate of a truce of six week on July 6th. Beyond this lasted, Kermoulés promised to deliver Brest to besieging if no help arrives to the defenders and under condition which the place cannot be supplied. The constable leaves the command has Olivier de Clisson to join the duke of Anjou to the seat of the castle of Derval. Clisson benefits from the truce to remove fort of Conquet. August 2nd, the English fleet of Salisbury unloads vivres and reinforcements which make the castle definitively impregnable. One him crystallized the defense of Brest.

The treaty of Bruges of June 27th, 1375 signs the armistice between France and England. Officially Brest is returned to Jean de Montfort, but the city remains under English supervision. Montfort is constrained to join England in September.

In 1378 the Duke of Montfort is declared Duc of Brittany sounds the name of Jean IV. He continues everywhere Jean of Blois, whose Charles V, king de France takes the party. Jean IV still requests helps in England and passes a new treaty. Jean IV gives up the Castle with Richard II. The English unload reinforcements on June 15th, however that the troops of the King, ordered by the Viscount of Rohan, the lords of Laval, of Leon, Clisson and Beaumanoir attack the castle, without success.

Of return in Brittany, in 1379, Jean IV is accommodated by the Breton lords who reproaches him his anglophilia. A Free-Breton alliance is born in the 1381. Duke of Brittany asks for the restitution of sound in vain well. Irritated by the bad faith of his English relative it makes the seat of the city in 1386. Olivier De Clisson, joint with him for the account of Charles VI. Knowing the impossible direct attack they make raise two forts to make blockade. The two forts, one of wood and the other out of stones, are attacked and reversed by the English. The attack is renewed the following year. To prevent helps by the sea, one builds a wood fort on boats which one places in the middle of the Narrow part and at the entry of the roads. To support this fort one raises some out of stones on each bank. But the English captain Henri de Percy, ruins the wood fort and seizes both others.

Peace takes shape between the kingdom of France and that of England by the signature of a truce between Charles VI and Richard II. It is finally, on March 28th, 1397, which the duke of Brittany recovers his good. Jean Periou, sior of Mesguéant, become captain and the house with the hermines of Brittany floats again above the fortress. Jean IV who will say “is not lord de Bretagne who is not lord de Brest” occupies his castle only two years, he dies on November 2nd, 1399.

The city develops very slowly. The castle increases its perimeter towards the west. The defense of the entry is reinforced by a “châtelet”. According to the techniques of the time one can imagine that one adds a covered way out of wood and roofs to the turns.

The castle of the dukes

The war begins again in 1403. Jean V is in his turn taken in war between France and England. It is at that time that is born truly, in the shade of its strong castle, the city and the wearing of Brest. The two shores are the subject of attacks in turn. In 1405, former captain of the castle, the count de Huntingdon, burns the fleet of the count of the Walk which wets in Penfeld. Jean V walks on Brest, with the head of 2.200 men, the Marshal of Rieux with 700 men-at-arms joined it like Tanguy of Chatel with peasants, armed with forks and forgery. Exacerbated by the exactions made by the English, Huntingdon and his troop are made cut in part. The Admiral of Brittany, Jean de Penhoat, installs of Roscoff and concluded the battle by destroying and taking 40 ships and 2.000 men. The English are pushed back once again in 1453 by the garrison of Jean de Quelennec, Viscount of Faou and Admiral de Bretagne. In Crozon reprisals is plundered and burned.

XVe century is that great work of adaptation to the new weapons and development of the defense works. The commanders of the castle (the count de Languevez, 1405 - Éon Phelips, 1407 - Tanguy de Kermorvan, 1424) restore it and to the test parts of seat put it. As in the other strengthened cities of the time, the duke builds a residence strengthened in order to return the stay to more pleasant and surer Brest. Thus is added the tower Duchesse Anne, the Northern tower and the Azenor tower which shelter storeroom, kitchen, rooms, residences as well as a vault. The whole of the turns are connected by curtains and form the true castle seigneurial city-closed.

At the time of the duchess Anne of Brittany

Charles VIII concretizes these aimed on the duchy of Brittany by the catch of Guingamp, on January 10th, 1489, by the Viscount of Rohan and his troops. The Duchess Anne, anxious for Brest, orders to the lord de Kérousy the routing of reinforcement. But the castle opens its doors with the Viscount of Rohan, undoubtedly helped by the treason of the captain of the place.

Like these predecessors, Anne makes alliance with England while giving Concarneau and Brest to Henri VII. The new anglo-Breton coalition, aligns 22 vessels to block Brest by the sea and engages a strong army to hold the seat as well as a good artillery. But the marshal of Rieux and the Admiral Bizien de Kérousy must give up in front of the means placed at the disposal of the commander de Guillaume Carreau to defend Brest. A French squadron, led by the admiral de Graville and reinforced by the Inhabitants of Saint Malo of Jean de Porcon, puts in escape the anglo-Breton fleet and supplies besieged. Rieux, badgered by the French, has other choices to only give up.

As a sign of sovereignty, Charles VIII orders to place, the escutcheon of France above the door of the ravelin. The marriage of Anne of Brittany with Charles VIII, on December 6th, 1491, then with Louis XII, on January 17th, 1499, definitively inserts the castle of Brest in the bosom of France.

Anne of Brittany queen of France

April 1505, the king is seriously sick. The Anne queen decides, to carry out with ego August, a pilgrimage to ask for the cure of king Louis. The procession leaves Blois for Brittany. Its rider Gilles de Texue accompanies it like princes and lords by France, barons and gentlemen Breton. Anne undertakes the Tro Breizh, pious pilgrimage of the Breton ones, which makes it tower of Brittany. It leads the pilgrims to the seven cathedrals devoted to the Saints founders. It is also the occasion of a true voyage of inspection. The procession passes, of city downtown, castle in castle: Nantes, Valves, Hennebont, Quimper, Locronan.

“It was honourably accepted as well as it was a marvellous triumph”, brings back Jean d' Auton in his chronicles of Louis XII. “according to the edge of the sea, until Our-Lady-of-Folgoët, and estoit miraculous thing to veoir by the fields, ways and servant boys if grant multitude of men women and small children who accourayent to veoir their lady and maistress”.

Arrival in Folgoët on August 19th, term of its pilgrimage, Anne expresses the wish to rejoin Brest. It desire to contemplate the powerful castle which his/her father François II embellished and modernized as well as the great nave Marie Cordelière, one of the largest warships of the time.

Important work of fortification was undertaken throughout the XV century. One adapts the castle has a new weapon: the artillery. The medieval walls do not resist the metal balls. Built consequently the Madeleine tower then the Paradis turns, home-carries which defends the entry. The walls are thick of 5 meters and thus do not yield under the balls.

At the end of August, the imposing continuation of the queen arises to the gate of the castle. The bells of the church of the Trinity, the vault of the castle, sound the welcome with their sovereign. She forsakes her litter of voyage for her white mounting. Escorted many gentlemen overlapping with its dimensioned, surrounded of the ladies of atours, followed servants and stitchers, it crossed the drawbridge of the first ditch surrounding the ravelin. This triangular work which orders the large gate, is at the time, known under the names of sparrow or gherkin. Crowned machicolation, this work conceals casemates bored by loopholes. Its ogival door decorates escutcheon of France surrounded of the cord of Saint-Michel and surmounted of a fleurdelissée open crown. Anne sees, undoubtedly while passing, this symbol, come sixteen years earlier to register in the Breton stone her tender in France. The procession penetrates finally in the castle by the drawbridge of the royal Door”. This door in semicircular arch, closed by a harrow is doubled of an ogival counter. The unit is covered by the Paradis turns: two semicircular turns crowned of machicolation and capped roofs out of extinguishers. At that time, the curtains which are on both sides are still flanked their Gallo-Roman turrets.

Inside the notable walls little of constructions to share the vault the Trinity in which the pious Anne queen will collect herself. The city especially consists of modest dwellings, the city develops until extending to the accesses from the enclosure. (At the end of the XV century, one will count 260 dwellings, that is to say approximately some 1300 inhabitants.)

The queen and her small court impressed a way which curves with the length of a ravine at the bottom of which find a fountain and laundrettes to reach a postern which gives on a advanced work named “Horseshoe”. At that time, there is no quay. The rotunda is thus bathed by the sea. It is of this site, that they can admire Cordelière. Given to nine at the conclusion of a careenage, caraque Amirale resplendie under the walls of the castle. The port does not shelter a fleet of war. Its position offset compared to the great ways of trade makes that he knows only one weak activity. But the fortress preserves its strategic interest. It reception approximately 500 men and has the most important armament of Brittany. 100 firearms including nearly 50 guns.

When the Anne duchess remains there, the castle is not only any more one fortress it is also a modern and roomy ducal residence. One lodges the noble visitors in the keep. They is that resident there the dukes of Brittany at the time of their stays in Brest. One reaches it by a third bridge which crossed a ditch before arriving at the gate to the architrave in gothic arch flattened, struck lion holding the ecu of Brittany. But the many continuation is accustomed to more roomy residences. The tower of the South, in spite of the room of pageantry and the oratory with the Gothic windows, the kitchens seigneuriales and the vast chimneys is not enough. The queen thus does not live a long time Brest.

The league

“The rabble cruel, barbarian and endiablée of the venom of the league, it estoit armed fifteen or twenty millet, and infinitely incommodoient the city and the chasteau of Brest, of which Mister de Chasteauneuf estoit governor, which estoit the only place of Low-Brittany which tenoit for the service of Roy” (Memories of Montmartin).

Rosampoul, wire of Jerome de Carné, takes the harbor office on June 12th, 1580 adopts the League. But he is little appreciated population and must quickly yield the station in front of Guy de Rieux, lord of Châteauneuf, This lieutenant Général of the king, is made deliver the place thanks to these relations in the city, at the end of September 1589.

Fidelity Guy de Rieux preserves Brest at the party of the Protestant king Henri IV. The situation being sufficiently on has Brest, the new governor leaves the following year to the seat Hennebont. Its weapons decorate the tower Duchesse Anne today. The government of Brest returns to his/her brother Rene de Rieux, lord of Sourdéac which, in its turn, carries out vigorous operations against the League.

In 1592, the seat of royal justice is transferred to Saint-Renan. In June, 5 to 6.000 members of a league invest Recouvrance, to try to make fall the citadel. Supported by the Spaniards, they in vain besiege the castle for five months. The garrison pushes back the attacker and puts in parts besieging them. For price of their fidelity, the Residents of Brest receive on December 31st, 1593 the right of middle-class, “following the example inhabitants of Bordeaux”.

Persuaded that a seat is dedicated to the failure, the members of a league decide next spring to block the access of the roads. It has counted on the assistance of their Spanish allies present in Brittany for two years. Elisabeth assisting from Henri IV deploys 2.400 men in the Leon. Sourdéac, which is not certain intentions of Elisabeth, refuses to shelter an English garrison equal to that of its French and by respecting there the terms of the treaty signed by the king in guarantee of the sums lent by England.

Twelve Spanish vessels unload in spring 1594 in Camaret. Colonel Don Juan del Aquila makes unload the men and the material necessary to the construction, of an important strengthened work. Built on l´actuelle point of the Spaniards by Cristobal de Rojas and named " Castilla de Léon" , it has a strategic position vis-a-vis the English dimensions. Its goal is also to make itself main of the castle of Brest by blocking its maritime access by the Narrow part in its narrowest point. Its fires crossing with those of another battery to build on northern bank of the narrow part must prohibit any supply of Brest by the sea. The royal army with at its Jean head, duke d´Aumont, Marshal of France, helped of the fleet and the English troop makes the seat of the fort as from mid-October. It is firmly defended by 400 savage Spanish of the Praxède captain. In spite of 3.000 French, 2.000 English, 300 arquebusiers with horse and 400 gentlemen, the place fall only on November 18th, 1594.

The citadel of Vauban

In 1631, the cardinal of Richelieu, désireu to equip monarchy with a powerful navy, makes undertake work in Brest which has its favor. It at that time was born a true wearing of war. … Brest, the large military port, the thought of Richelieu, the hand of Louis XIV; extremely, arsenal and bagne, guns and vessels, armies and million, the force of France piled up at the end of France… Jules Michelet, Table of France, 1833

But it is Colbert, minister in title of the Navy, which gives to Brest its true rise with the development, as from 1669 of the arsenal. The intendant of Threshold is the person in charge of the first construction schedules of the arsenal between 1670 and 1680. Reinforced and modernized, the castle defends from now on the first port of the marine of the king. In 1680, the new battery supplements the castle in south-west to ensure the defense of the entry of the port. In the North-East an imposing face bastionné “with Vauban” protects the approaches.

The population increases then clearly the more so as it was linked with that of Recouvrance in 1681. The project of Massiac of Holy-Dove finds a beginning of execution there this year. This its access and its arsenal, modernization plan of the defense of the city is taken again and transformed by Vauban in May 1683.

Vauban thus intervenes, between 1683 and 1695. It makes destroyed the last Roman towers and the roofs in pepper plantations of the keep. At that time, defenses effectively protect the castle from a direct attack by the sea. But the fortress must above all be protected, of a terrestrial attack after a possible unloading of the English enemy on the dimension. The castle becomes " citadelle" supervising at the same time the city, the countryside and the broad one.

Glacis, covered way and half-moons prolong the fortification on the side of the ground. The parapets are redrawn and equipped with plunging embrasures. To constitute a vast platform adapted for the use of artillery, one connects by a new building the tower Duchesse Anne and the Northern tower. Only the Paradis turns preserve their medieval aspect. Curtains are widened, while it false-braie the wall between the Madeleine tower and the Paradis turns reinforces vis-a-vis the shootings of gun. One also arranges batteries at the entry of the narrow part (Camaret and Bertheaume). After the intervention of Vauban the castle will not evolve/move much any more.

The statue of Louis XVI

In 1785, Louis XVI lance a great project of construction in instead of the castle in order to marking its recognition for the city. It is the project of Mr. Jallier de Savault which is retained. It in particular envisages to set up at the most majestic place of the city a monumental Statue of the sovereign. It owes trôner with the site of the César tower. so that no building, small or large, could enter the roads, any movement to be done in the port, any safety to be given or go, without the King seeing them and chaired it to some extent. The project includes/understands, with the bottom of the street of the castle, a place of weapons of oval form, planted trees. Energy of this place until the end of the Park-with-Duke, the Royal street, a broad street makes it possible to be vis-a-vis the roads. the public would see with some emotion a monument with Louis XVI returning the privileges in Brittany and the freedom of the seas, high on the remains of a building devoted to this César which removed it with the Romans and put at irons the whole world.

This project misses making shave, without regrets, worthy the fourteen century old witness of history. But in April 1788, the count d' Hector, ordering the Navy declares that the project of Mr. Jallier de Savault is irreconcilable with work that the navy considers on the ground of the Park-with-Duke. The events to come would in any case not have allowed the result of this plan.

The fort the law

Second world war: the last seat

Brest falls to the hands from the German army on June 19th, 1940. The citadel is occupied. The Paradis turns are used once again as prison. One locks up there condemned to the deportation. Since a quay level gained on the sea in 1931, the Germans dig undergrounds in cliff from where one can reach the castle.

After the retirement of the German troops, which makes following the unloading the “Brest Fortress” becomes one of the “pockets” of resistance wanted by the Führer. It is ordered by the Ramcke general, of the 2nd Division Parachutist. In August 1944, the allied troops arrive in front of the ramparts of Brest. The civil population is invited to evacuate on August 7th. The place of the Castle is particularly touched the 14, by the many bombardments which prepare the attack. The 25, the Ramcke general writes the day order “I count that each parachutist will make his duty until the end with a fanatic zeal. The 1st division was immortalisée with the Monte Casino. 2nd immortaliser goes to Brest”.

The castle is again touched by a bombardment on September 2nd at the beginning of the afternoon. The National bridge is destroyed the following day. The drama of the shelter Sadi-Carnot occurs in the night from September 8th to 9th. The seat of the city lasts forty-three days. Brest falls to the hands from the troops from the Middleton general the 18. After having refused the capitulation, the Ramcke general leaves for Crozon with a handle fanatics. He ends up going on September 23rd.

Although shaken and carrying the marks of the engagements, the castle firmly remains established on its rock base. The barracks built on the esplanade are with ground and will not be rebuilt.

The castle of today

The last buildings are yielded to the National marine in 1945. The restoration of the whole of the castle is undertaken. One installs the Police port authority there. The seat of the maritime Command was up to that point lodged in the Saint-Pierre hotel. A new central building, due to the architects Niermans and Gutb, is built. The Police port authority of the Second Area and the Command as a Chief for the Atlantic settles there in 1953. the large gallery leading to the room of the Council of the Directors reception the portraits of the 150 predecessors of the Prefect, since 1636.

The residence of the Maritime police chief replaces the semaphore on the Park with the Duke who even is replaced him by the watchtower built at the top of the César tower. The undergrounds dug by the Germans, shelter the command of the National marine for the Atlantic and that of the strategic oceanic Force.

Since 1955, the castle also accommodates the collections of the National museum of the Navy. It is to some extent the heir to the room of models of ships installed in 1826 on the first floor of the workshop of sculptures of the arsenal of Brest. The collections evacuated with Morlaix during the second world war, are transferred in 1958 in the Paradis turns. An extension of the museum in the keep is carried out in 1985.

Structure of the building

The tower César - XIIIe

Perhaps the César tower which dates the III century was set up on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman tower. Of or perhaps name which remained to him. It made office, in turn, of housing, prison then of store before supporting the watchtower which controls movements of the port.

It is drawn up in front of the South-western frontage to which it is attached by two curtains which form a tiny room. A postern with drawbridge made it possible to reach it of the outside of the castle. Although walled, this postern is visible since the garden of the residence of the Maritime police chief.

The keep

Located at the North-eastern angle of the enclosure, the keep is in fact the old citadel of city-closed the Middle Ages. This heart of the medieval defensive apparatus is with him only a small castle isolated from the remainder of the place

In the beginning it was composed of three principal towers connected by curtains: in the South, the tower Duchess Anne, in North the tower of the Keep, the West, the Azénor tower. The principal access is in the West. It consists of a door charretière defended by a crenelated work of fortification and of a drawbridge crossing the ditch which separated the citadel from the remainder of the city. This unit formed a polygonal court, whose level was located at nearly 2,20 meters under the current level. The unit shelters a well, oubliettes and several rooms underground.

Flanked bastion of Sourdéac, with a tower of the keep reinforced, the keep will be completed by Vauban as from 1683. A wall and arched rooms come to connect the turns of the South and the Keep. The pepper plantations disappear with the profit from vast platforms intended for powerful pieces of artillery. Lastly, at the XIXe century, one bores bays. The first stage shelters the principal rooms of the Files of the port, the upper floor the library of the Navy and the oratory.

The tower Azenor - XIIIe

The current tower was built in Xlll century, on the ruins of old. The two lower levels are accessible since the court by a staircase taken in the thickness from the wall. They were used of reserves and stores. The two levels higher, reserved than the dwelling, are equipped with chimneys and one reaches it since the covered way. Inside the octagonal rooms whose cut sides do not superimpose exactly a stage with the others. It undergoes the transformations little if it is not that of Vauban which modified the roof of it. It is abandoned at the XIXeme century and the only access is done by the curtains, the main entrance being forsaken.

Its name comes from the legend of the Azenor Princess who is brought back to us by the Dominican one, Albert the Large one, in a work the " Life of Saints". … " Azenor estoit of rich person cuts., right-hand side like a palm, beautiful like a star, and this beauty external estoit nothing in comparison of sound âme". Even, lord of Brest, had only one girl naming Azenor. Towards 537, She marries the Count de Goëlo. The young grooms settle in a castle built by King Audren (Chatelaudren). Become widowed, Even remarie with a mantle which did not have of cease to get rid of his/her daughter-in-law. Jealous, she swears the loss of Azenor. She shows it of adultery while making use of false witnesses. The count de Goëlo believes in this calumny. the Princess is locked up in darkest turn of the castle. Condemned to death, she escapes roughing-hew when it is learned that she is pregnant. The judges, probably bought at ransom price, condemn it to be placed in a barrel and pier with the sea. The barrel sails thus for five months. Each day, an angel visits the girl of prince de Léon and the necessary one brings to him. At the end of its perilous wandering, Azénor accosts with the shore of Beauport, in Ireland. It gives rise to a son who received the name of Budoc " saved eaux" who will become a great saint. The mother-in-law dies, during her exodus, by acknowledging the truth with the husband of Azenor. It decides to leave has its research to be made forgive and bring back it. But He dies at the time of their return after having sought it a long time, followed little time afterwards in the tomb by his wife. Even collects and raises its grandson.

The tower of the Duchess Anne (or turn of midday) - XIVe

This tower initially constituted the tower of the home of the Castle of the Middle Ages. It turns its defensive face towards the interior of the enclosure. It comprises, on each of four levels, two rooms, one rectangular, the other hexagonal one. Its construction and its installations enabled him to ensure a perfect autonomy. It comprised a kitchen, apartments, bored storerooms of embrasure of shooting, an interior gallery and bays of lighting. Apartments of the governor there remains the oratory.

Armorial bearings of Guy de Rieux (1589)

In 1589, the governors of the place embraces the party of the League. But Guy de Rieux, captain of the royal army, is made deliver Brest which then becomes the only Breton city favorable to Henri IV. Its armorial bearings are engraved in the stone of the castle (1589). He dies at sea while returning from the head office of Hennebont (Morbihan) in December 1590. His/her brother will succeed to him. these weapons are Trouvées, after war in the debris near the keep. The stone is encrusted in the frontage with the tower with the South during work of restoration during the Fifties

The bastion Sourdéac - XVIe

Several attempts at unloading English in the middle of the XVI century concretizes the threat of attack of the castle. They encourage has to complete the fortification by the construction of the most powerful work of the place. Work of the Italian engineer, Pietro Frédance, this bastion in the shape of trapezoid wraps the keep in north and protects it from a terrestrial attack. The installation of the first stone takes place in December 1560. Its construction lasted thirty-seven years. It comprises a vast artillery platform and underground casemates whose broad embrasures cover the entry of the port. One reaches it by a broad staircase opening in the court of the keep. A small staircase served a counter now blocked which is with the foot of the bastion, plumb with these casemates. A gallery of countermine circumvents bases of the tower of the keep to 15 meters under the quay level. It leads to the second series of casemates, formerly covering the principal door and the northern curtain of the frontage. This one is buried today under the embankment of the carpark. Watch towers placed at its angles, such of the figureheads, decorates the unit.

The tower of the keep - XVIe

The tower of the Keep, was set up in 1597 by Sourdéac, with the site of a ruined tower, probably Gallo-Roman.

The Barracks (1894)

With - Barracks Paradise

B - Offices of the place and the intendance, old civil prison (1822-1859)

C - Barracks Esplanade, being used as infirmary, leant with the southern curtain (some vestiges)

D - Plougastel barracks, built between 1591 and 1624 by Sourdéac (classified in 1923)

E - Barracks Sir, being used as room of weapons (1822-1825)

F - César barracks (completed in 1766)

G - Room of weapons, on the site of the residences of the Major of the place and the lieutenant of the King

H - Stores of artillery, built in 1777 and 1624 by Sourdéac (classified in 1923)

Triumph of Amphitrite

Become a monument with whole share, the base of the “Triumph of Amphitrite”, is in the court of the Police port authority. This pedestal is decorated of three tritons, fixed at a column, spit a filament of water in their basins. It is the work of engineer Tarbé de Vauxclairs.

The white marble statue of Antoine Coysevox, initially diverted gardens of Marly by the Consular government, is established by the Caffarelli Maritime police chief close to the site current of the Tourville door. The monument awkward the evolutions on this quay level, the Chaucheprat prefect makes it transplant in 1912 in the gardens of the Police port authority, the old Saint-Pierre hotel. In 1940, the historical heritage and artistic of Brest is put at the shelter in the castle of Kerjean. With the release the pedestal is dismounted and gone up in the castle as for the statue it remains with the Musée of Louvre.

The National museum of the Navy

One can see there the famous sculptures of Yves Collet: March, Amphitrite, Minerve and Neptune which assemble the guard in the covered way. The models, sculptures, paintings and other objects report there the development of the military port, the bagne, naval constructions and the maritime life of the West.

(text of origin - part to be supplemented)

According to Leon Fleuriot ( Origins of Brittany , 1980), such a castle would only justify with him to place at Brest the political center of the quoted of the Osismes and several texts of IXe and Xe seem to confirm it. The city and its castle (they could merge besides) would have been ruined in Ve century by the Goths or the Vandales or even the Huns, perhaps in 452.

It is perhaps because of this event that the city called Legio (seat of a Roman legion) would have seen its bishop, Saint pol. Aurélien, to leave it to be established with the Castrum Pauli , i.e. with Saint-Pol.-of-Leon.

After four centuries of darkness, one sees in the Chronique of Nantes that it is while returning from a oppidum called Bresta that is assassinated the king Solomon of Brittany in 875.

About 1064 or 1065, the count of Leon, Morvan II, whose capital is Lesneven, comes to raise the walls of the castle and a keep adds to it to the one of the angles to place itself there. In the closed city, it makes build a vault under the invocation of Our-Lady-of-Pity.

In 1194, it is in the castle, still belonging to the counts de Léon, whom is put at the shelter the young person Arthur Ier of Brittany, grandson and heir to Henri II of England, and heir to the duchy, assassinated in 1203 by his/her uncle, Jean without Ground. In 1240, the count Herve III of Leon must be solved to sell the town of Brest and thus his castle to the duke of Brittany Jean Ier in exchange of a revenue of 100 pounds and supply of a white mare.

But, the War of succession of Brittany will confirm at the century following the immense strategic value of a castle located at the edge of a Rade open on the Ocean, but protected by the Goulet from Brest which makes it possible to envisage the arrival of the hostile boats and to prohibit the passage to them. In 1342, the king Edouard III of England unloads with an immense army in Brest to support his candidate with the crown of Brittany, Jean de Montfort. He leaves a garrison to the castle and will imprison there in 1347 Charles of Blois, nephew of Philippe VI of France, husband of Jeanne de Penthièvre, heiress of the duchy of Brittany. In 1372, the winner (with Auray, in 1364) of Charles of Blois, the duke Jean IV of Brittany prefers, within the framework of a policy of balance between the craftsmen of the Guerre One hundred Year old, to again give to the English the fortress which it had recovered in 1365.

The king of France, Charles V will in vain try to take it again via his two constables, moreover Breton, Bertrand of Guesclin (in 1375) and Olivier de Clisson (in 1378). Reconciled with the king of France, Charles VI, Jean IV of Brittany establishes a seat regulates some in 1386, but the duke of Lancaster easily pushes back it by destroying the against-fortifications. In 1395, the duke must be solved to repurchase the castle with the king Richard II of England for the enormous sum of 35.000 books.

He was completed at the 17th century, by Vauban.

Appendices

Localization: Brittany area, Department of Finistere, town of Brest, boulevard of theFree ones.
state-owned property.
Pregnant strengthened classified with the historic buildings by decree of March 21st, 1923. It is mainly built out of Gneiss and granite. The surface which it occupies is of approximately 5 hectares.
Principal authors of the building: Holy-dove (engineer); Philibert of the Elm, Pietro Fredance (Italian engineer), Sebastien Prestre de Vauban (military engineer); Amédée François Frézier (military engineer); Fautras (military engineer); Robelin (military engineer); Niermans and Gutb.
Plane of the castle of Brest - drawn up by the officers of the Genious - plan approved on November 15th, 1859 by the colonel Livet

Internal bond

Fleet of the West

External bond

Presentation of the castle on the site of the town of Brest
electronic Files of the general Inventory, Brittany
Reconstitution of the castle in three dimensions

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