Nantes, France
Links to other sites on the Web
Get your own Free Home Page
Rochefort is a small medieval city perched on a rocky spur and surrounded by deep valleys.
Several monuments ( Church - XVIth century Calvary - Fortified castle - XVIth-XVIIth century houses) are the
wealth of Rochefort's past.
DESCRIPTION
122 Hectares
646 Inhabitants
Administrative centre of the district since the 15th of January 1790 - Administrative centre of the Canton in 1800 -
Parish in 1802.
"Village fleuri" (flowered village) - 3 Flowers (classification 1995 ) - One of the most flowered towns of France since 1967
16th -18th century Town Houses
Church dating back to the 12th century in parts and to the 16th century for the main part.
Castle bought by the department of Morbihan in 1978
QUALITY ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
*Several monuments and houses are listed
Church , calvary, entrance to the castle, houses in the square of the well, etc...
*Square of the well : this famous flowerd house formerly sheltered the tribunal, as can be seen from the weighing scales sculptured on the lintel of the door.
*The calvary, built on the square of the church by Claude de Rieux-Rochefort dates back to the 16th century.
The clergy used it as a book of images in order to teach the bible to the members of the parish.
HISTORY
0rigin : Feudal Castle probably built in the 11th and 12th centuries, on a slate promontory,
from which we get the name "ROCHEFORT", signifying "ROCHE FORTE" (strong rock)
The different families that were owners of the castle :
* The lords of ROCHEFORT in the 14th century
* The lords of RIEUX-ROCHFFORT in the 14th/l5th century and the beginning of the 16th
* François l was received at the castle of Rochefort by Claude de RIEUX-ROCHEFORT
* Jean 1V of RIEUX-ROCHEFORT, guardian of ANNE DE BRETAGNE,
negociated her marriage with King CHARLES VIII
* Françoise d'AMBOISE, daughter of Marie and of Jean III of RIEUX-ROCHEFORT, stayed for a while in the castle of Rochefort.
* The lords COLIGNY D'ANDELOT in the 16th century
* The lords of LORRAINE ELBOEUF in the 17th century
* Millord of LARLAN in the 17th and 18th centuries
- The son, Julien François of LARLAN, founded the hospice of which the administration was confided in the grey sisters of Wisdom
* Millord HAY DE NETUMIERES in 1761
ROCHEFORT DURING THE REVOLUTION
- 16th of MARCH 1793
*Rochefort was taken by the "chouans"
3 deads, where the name 'ROCHE DES TROIS' (rock of the three) came from ,given to ROCHEFORT for a few years.
* 26th of MARCH 1793 - The republican armies took back Rochefort. The castle was destroyed, except for the stables.
* Easter 1793 - Great Republican Feast. The tree of liberty is planted in the "place des halles" (market place).
* 11th of JANUARY 1794 - A priest born in Rochefort, Julien François MINIER, was guillotined at LORIENT, his name is given to
a private school for boys.
THE CHURCH
Built in the 12th century for the placing of the statue of the Virgin, discovered in a tree trunk, from where the name 'NOTRE DAME DE LA TRONCHAYE' comes from.
In 1498, the church became a collegiate church. It was modified throughout the centuries and only found its actual state in 1924.
Listed as an historical monument since the 22nd of January 1931
Every year, the feast of Notre Dame de la Tronchaye is celebrated on the 15th of August
The regional Pardon takes place on the Sunday following the 15th of August.
THE CHAPELS
The Chapel of SAINT-MICHEL was the firstly the priory chapel of Saint-Michel, depending on the abbey of the Benedictines of Redon
The priory dates back to the first Counts of Rochefort, around the 11th century.
It possesses a bell which dates back to 1670.
The Chapel of SAINT-ROCH was built thanks to the wish of the inhabitants of Rochefort during the Plague.
It was constructed in 1527. This chapel was burnt during the Revolution and was rebuilt in 1854.
The Chapel of SAINT-JEAN (of the castle) was the private chapel of the castle.
It was destroyed during the Revolution.
Rochefort Tourist Office
Place des Halles
56220 ROCHEFORT-EN-TERRE
Links to other sites on the Web
Get your own Free Home Page