Fougères, Medieval fortress town in Brittany, France
Fougères is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of eastern Brittany, spread across two levels along the Nançon River. The upper town sits on a rocky outcrop while the lower town fills the valley with views toward the fortress walls.
The fortress was built in the 11th century and later reinforced to protect the border between the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France. In the 19th century a major shoe industry developed here, bringing new economic growth to the commune.
The name Fougères comes from the Breton word for fern, which once covered the slopes around the settlement. In the lower town you can still see granite houses clinging to the hillsides, threaded by narrow lanes.
Walking around the commune requires comfortable shoes because steep paths run between the two levels. The best starting point is near the town hall in the upper town, from where you can gradually descend into the valley.
A public clock in a glass-and-iron belfry has been ringing since 1887, once regulating the workday of shoe factory workers. Today it still reminds visitors how industry shaped the daily rhythm of residents.
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