A fortress to protect Morlaix

In the 1500s, Morlaix was a prosperous town, coming just behind Nantes and Saint-Malo as Brittany’s top trade ports. The picturesque ‘Pondalez’ timbered houses and flamboyant parish churches in the surrounding areas were built thanks to the riches earned through the local linen trade. Morlaix was also in a strategic position at the mouth of the English Channel, halfway between northern and southern Europe, enabling the town to develop strong maritime trade links with England, Holland, Spain and Portugal.

This wealth and power did not go unnoticed: Morlaix was regularly attacked and ransacked. In 1522, when the relationship with England was particularly delicate, English sailors raided the town and set fire to it. It took 10 years for Morlaix to recover.

Exasperated by these attacks, local residents decided to take their defence into their own hands, and built a fort on a rocky island known as Le Taureau (the bull). It was far from easy work, but the only route for large ships to approach Morlaix was to the west of this little island: by building here, any ships would find themselves within firing range.

The first fort

Building work began around 1542. Little is known about the first fort, although its outer walls were just 6.5m tall - less than half the current height - and all the cannons were pointed west, as this was the only channel through which ships could approach. In 1544, the King granted permission to nominate a governor, Jean de Kermellec, and to station a garrison of thirty soldiers here.

The running costs and maintenance were paid for by the people of Morlaix, which was a high price to pay.

Illustration : Collection du Musée de Bretagne