Montfort-sur-Meu, commune in Ille-et-Vilaine, France
Montfort-sur-Meu is a small town in Brittany, located about 31 kilometers west of Rennes. It sits where two rivers, the Meu and the Garun, meet and is surrounded by forests and farmland.
In 1091 Raoul de Gaël, a follower of William the Conqueror, built a small fortress on a hill, marking the town's foundation. Later in the 14th century a fortified section was constructed around the castle, and the town underwent major changes when it became a sub-prefecture after the French Revolution.
The town's name comes from Latin words meaning mount and fortified, reflecting its early military purpose. Today this heritage appears in local festivals and markets that highlight traditional crafts and regional skills practiced by the community.
The town center is easy to explore on foot, with narrow lanes in older sections and wider streets elsewhere that allow comfortable wandering. Cafes and shops line the main streets, and local market halls and museums offer information about the town's history and legends.
A local legend tells of Saint Nicholas, the town's patron saint, who helped a girl imprisoned in the castle tower by transforming her into a cane so she could escape. This story is still told today and is remembered each year with a small celebration in the town square every May.
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