Constable Tower

The Constable's tower, home of the army commander

The Vannes audio-guided tour stops you before the Constable's tower, a medieval tower from the first half of the fifteenth century. While it also had a defensive role, it mainly served as the residence of Constable Arthur de Richemont.

The supreme commander of the ducal armies

A constable was the supreme commander of the armies, here those of the duke of Brittany. Arthur de Richemont was a great military figure of his time. The tower, rounded on the outside and heptagonal inside, has five levels and illustrates the art of building fortified residences within the ramparts of the walled town.

What there is to see

Since it became the property of the city, the tower has been fully restored and now hosts temporary exhibitions and guided tours. The back of the tower gives access to the ramparts. Note the contrast between its rounded outer form and its heptagonal inner structure, a rare testimony of fifteenth-century Breton military and residential architecture.

Practical information

The Constable's tower is on Rue des Remparts, at the heart of the defensive system of Vannes. It hosts temporary exhibitions and guided tours according to its own programme; opening times may vary with the season. The tower can also be contemplated freely from the street and the ramparts.

What is a constable?

The constable was the supreme commander of the armies. The tower served as the residence of Constable Arthur de Richemont, commander of the armies of the duke of Brittany.

What can you see in the tower today?

Restored by the city, the tower hosts temporary exhibitions and guided tours. Its rear gives access to the ramparts of Vannes.