Rochefort-en-Terre is a village in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.
Rochefort-en-Terre was endowed in the twelfth century with a castle built by the lords of Rochefort on a rocky spur where there were already fortifications from Roman times. The town developed from the castle, which was the nucleus of an important manor that extended over a dozen parishes.
During the 19th century, the slate and leather industries developed. In 1892 the population took the name of Rochefort-en-Terre. From 1903 the American painter Alfred Klots, owner of the castle, invited some painters to the town and began to develop tourism, a key sector for Rochefort-en-Terre today.
The streets of this Breton commune, winner in 2006 of 4 flowers in the villes et villages fleuris competition, are home to numerous examples of architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries, which is worth being included in the list of les plus beaux villages de France ( The Most Beautiful Villages of France ) and of small cites of character.
Access : Coordinates: 47.7003, -2.3353 / Rochefort-en-Terre It belongs to the arrondissement of Vannes and the canton of Questembert.
Highlights :
- In 2016, Rochefort-en-Terre was elected “Favorite Village of the French”.
- This village is also included in the list, the name of which can be roughly translated as “Small characteristic cities” (Petites cités de caractère) – a brand specially created to support small towns with a population less than 6,000 people and old buildings, with a specific way of life.
- On December 23, 201754, during the TF1 program which chose it based on the illuminations, culinary specialties or even Christmas traditions , The village was elected “wonderful Christmas Village”.
- Grand Rue with some medieval houses , including the Café Breton, a 16th century house with a turret. classified as a monument historique.
- Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Tronchaye, with remains dating back to the 12th century, but essentially built in the 14th century.
- The Calvary located in the square of the Collegiale. It features sculptures representing Christ’s Passion and Ascension into heaven.
- Rochefort castle ruins (13th century),The castle is partially in ruins, conserving part of the entrance, the wall, a chapel and the residential part built by Albert Klots.the castle now houses a museum dedicated to the arts of the imaginary where works inspired by the fantastic universe and dreamlike are presented.
- The Saint-Roch chapel ,initially built in 1527, destroyed during the Revolution, rebuilt in 1854-1855 / The horseshoe-shaped market hall / The two fortified gates
- The Saint-Michel chapel (destroyed in the 17th century, rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century.
Go next : The Quiberon Peninsula / Gavrinis island / the picturesque Saint-Cado island / Groisillon / Vannes , a walled town in the Brittany region of northwest France. / Gulf of Morbihan.
