A splendid citadel anchored on an islet in the Bay of Morlaix in Finistère, this castle has had a strange destiny for over 4 centuries.
The Château du Taureau is a splendid citadel anchored on an islet in the Bay of Morlaix in Finistère. This castle has had a strange fate for over four centuries. Construction work began around 1542 in order to protect the inhabitants of Morlaix from attacks and looting. Indeed, in 1522, the English went up the Dossen to the bottom of the estuary that Morlaix closed. The town was looted but saved by its inhabitants.
Thus, to protect themselves from a new invasion, the Morlaisians built, twenty years later, at their own expense, the Fort du Taureau, at the entrance to the estuary. Until the reign of Louis XIII, the governor of the fort was ennobled. The Morlaisians fought over the post. This first fort has a 6.50 meter enclosure, half of its current height.
In 1661, Louis XIV declared the fort royal property, made it a state prison and installed a garrison there. However, in a context of incessant conflicts, Brittany occupied, due to its geographical proximity to England, a highly strategic position.
In 1680, Vauban reinforced the Fort du Taureau. The fort was thus completely rebuilt, with the exception of the French tower, to make it stronger and larger. The building, built mainly from granite from the neighboring island of Callot, has an oblong shape that follows that of the rock. It measures 60 meters long, 12 meters wide and 12 meters high for a built surface area of 1,450 m2. There are 11 casemates, each of which can accommodate a cannon. The fort also houses the soldiers’ and officers’ quarters, two dungeons, a canteen and a kitchen, a chapel and latrines.
But before its complete completion, following the decline of the town of Morlaix, the fortress was diverted from its initial purpose and used as a prison from 1721. The last to be imprisoned there was the famous Communard Louis Auguste Blanqui in 1871.
It was disarmed in 1890 and then classified as a historic monument in 1914.
During the summer of 1930, the Vilmorin family made it their vacation home. In the 1960s, it became a sailing school, until 1980.
Faced with its dilapidated state and thanks to the determination of many local and state stakeholders, restoration work began in 1998. The castle was returned to the public in 2004.
1542 : A first castle is built on the initiative and responsibility of the inhabitants of Morlaix. 1689 : First visit by Vauban. 1745 : Completion of the reconstruction work. 1871 : Departure of the last prisoner, the Communard Louis-Auguste Blanqui. 1890 : Military disarmament. 1914 : The castle, owned by the State, is classified as a “Historic Monument”. 1930 : A private individual, Mélanie de Vilmorin, rents it as a summer resort until 1937. 1982 : Closure of the sailing school created in 1960
Post credit: https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/fr/le-fort-du-taureau
