Guérande city walls

The city walls of Guérande form a complete stone ring with four entrance gates and several towers encircling the old town center. The structure stretches roughly 1.3 kilometers with thick walls and passage ways along the top.

Construction began in 1301 with support from the Duke of Brittany as a defense against invaders. The walls were maintained over several centuries and remain largely in their original form today.

The walls define the old town's appearance and show how medieval residents protected their home. Walking around them reveals the importance people once placed on defense and security.

Visitors can walk along the tops of the walls and enjoy views of the town from the rampart passages. Access is available from multiple points, with good viewpoints near the main gates.

Guérande is one of the few French cities with an entirely complete medieval fortification system that has survived unchanged to today. The fact that the entire town structure remains enclosed by these walls makes it an exceptional example of medieval urban planning.