Porte Mordelaise

The Porte Mordelaise is a fortified gateway in Rennes featuring two stone towers that frame a central passage as a remaining element of the city's medieval defenses. The structure shows the practical design of 15th-century military architecture with solid masonry and controlled access points.

The gate was constructed in 1440 as a formal entrance where the Dukes of Brittany performed their oath-taking ceremonies upon arrival in the city. This ceremonial function marked its role in the political relationship between Rennes and its ruling powers.

The gate stands as a symbol of Rennes' past connections to Brittany's ruling powers, and visitors can see how it marked a threshold between the outside world and the city's interior. Walking through it today connects you to centuries of arrivals and departures that shaped the city.

The gate sits in the heart of Rennes' old town at the intersection of Rue des Portes Mordelaises and Rue de Dinan, within easy walking distance of other historic sites. The surrounding area provides space to view the towers from multiple angles and to understand the gate's relationship to the surrounding streets.

The walls of the gate bear carved inscriptions with names of nobility and ceremonial records documenting the visits of high-ranking figures. These stone engravings provide a rare window into the protocols followed by medieval dignitaries during their formal entries.