Maison de la Duchesse Anne, Medieval house in Saint-Malo, France

Maison de la Duchesse Anne is a residence with a pentagonal footprint and four towers located in Saint-Malo. A central spiral staircase tower transitions from a circular base to an octagonal shape at its top.

Maison de la Duchesse Anne was built in the 15th century as part of Saint-Malo's early defences. It belonged to the Château-Gaillard complex until that complex was dissolved in 1573. The house is a monument historique inscrit.

The house is named after Anne of Brittany, duchess of Brittany and twice queen of France, though she never lived here. Its facade keeps carved window supports and chamfered lintels, and the corner of the street still carries the building's old name, marking its place in the town's street lore.

The building sits in the historic center of Saint-Malo at Rue Cour La-Houssaye and is easily reached on foot. Although fire damaged it during World War II, many original architectural features remain visible.

The spiral staircase tower rises from a circular base and turns octagonal at the top. Its machicolations, openings through which projectiles could be dropped on attackers, show that this domestic tower was built to be defended. Look for them just below the octagonal section.