Historical monuments in Vannes
Vannes has a rich heritage of about sixty protected historical monuments.
Buildings are protected as historic monuments because they are considered to be of public interest from the historical point of view or that of the history of art.
A monument can be classed as a historical monument by a decision from the Culture Minister.
It can be listed as a historical monument by an order from the Regional Prefect when “the building is of sufficient historical or artistic interest to render its preservation desirable, without justifying its immediate classification”.
Classification also applies to furniture (either furniture in the strict sense or furnishings considered as being included in the building) that are of historical interest.
Sixty buildings in Vannes – of which twenty-three are owned by the Town Council - and three sites are protected as historical monuments, either completely or partially, listed or classified.
The Prison Gate (15th century) is the oldest classified monument in Vannes (classification order dated 2nd May, 1912). Saint-Patern’s Church (18th century) is the most recent building to be protected by a listing order on 26th July, 2005 (extension of the protection).
Saint-Peter’s Cathedral, Place Saint Pierre (Cl. HM: 1906)
Saint-Patern’s Church, Rue de la Fontaine (Listed HM: 1946 and 2005)
Saint-Yves’ Chapel, Place Maurice Marchais (Listed HM: 1929)
Notre-Dame du Rohic’s Chapel, Le Rohic (Listed HM: 1929)
the former gate of the former Saint-Guen Chapel, Saint-Guen (Listed HM: 1939)
Ursulines’ Chapel, Rue Thiers (Cl. HM: 1988)
the Cathedral’s Calvary cross (Listed. HM: 1929)
Rohic Calvary (Listed HM: 1929)
Nearly all the battlements (tours, bastions et curtain walls) were protected between 1912 (Prison Gate) and 1958 (Gréguennic Bastion, Saint-François Tower and the adjoining curtain wall).
They are classed as historic monuments, with the exception of the following five structures that are listed as historic monuments: -the curtain wall and the site adjoining Poterne Gate, Trompette Tower and curtain wall, Gréguennic Bastion, Saint-François Tower and the curtain wall, Notre Dame Gate and the curtain wall).
The Cohue (market hall) (gate and three doors – Listed HM: 1929)
the Town Hall (Listed HM: 1992)
the Prefecture (frontages and roof - Listed HM: 1975)
Timber-frame houses
20 timber-frame houses in Vannes were added to the supplementary list of historical monuments between 1929 and 1943. This list gives partial protection, concerning frontages and roofs.
House numbers 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, Rue Saint-Guenhaël
House number 32 Rue des Chanoines and 2 Rue Emile Burgault
House number 3 Rue des Chanoines
House numbers 1, 2 (frontages only) and 5, Place Henri IV
House number 10 Rue Saint-Salomon
House number 23 Rue des Halles
House at the corner of Rue Noé and Rue P. Rogues
House number 17 Place Valencia (frontage only)
House numbers 1 Rue Thiers and 2 Rue du Drezen
House number 2 Rue du Port
Hôtels particuliers (Town houses)
Château-Gaillard, Rue Noé (Cl. HM: 1913)
Hôtel de Francheville, Place du Poids Public (Bartizan – Listed. HM: 1929)
Hôtel and Jardins de Limur (gardens), Rue Thiers (Cl. HM: 1993)
Hôtel de Saint-Georges, Place Valencia (frontage, roof, wooden sculptures in the first floor, staircase: Listed HM: 1945)
Miscellaneous
Staircase tower in the house at 11 Place des Lices (Listed HM:1931)
“Petit Fers” building, 3 Rue Alain le Grand (frontage, roof and metal structure – Listed HM: 2000)
classified sites
Saint-Patern,
Jardin des remparts and Jardin de la Garenne (gardens),
Port quarter.