Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2012 - Les Remparts de Vannes (56)

The ramparts of Vannes are a system of fortifications built between the 3rd and 17th centuries to protect the city of Vannes in France. The city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC and had to fortify itself with a castrum in the 3rd century due to the crisis in the Roman Empire. For over a thousand years, this enclosure served as the primary protection for the city. In the late 14th century, under the rule of Duke Jean IV, the city's walls were rebuilt and extended, doubling the area within the walls. Additionally, the duke added the Hermine fortress to strengthen the city's defenses. The ramparts of Vannes thus bear witness to the city's history and evolution, evolving from a Roman settlement into a strategic stronghold. They are now part of Vannes' cultural heritage.