L'Anse du Guesclin

The Fort du Guesclin is built on an island, accessible at low tide, in Saint-Coulomb in Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany), between Saint-Malo and Cancale

The first building was built in 1026 by the constable of Guesclin

In 1207 John Lackland, king of England, occupied the fort until Juhel III de Mayenne drove out the British after a bloody battle

The fort was dismantled in 1500 and bought by William of Châteaubriant and resold in 1589 to the Maison de Rieux

Finally, from 1757 to 1759 the old building was demolished and a new fort was built by Vauban with barracks and canons to protect the coast from the English

Having lost its military use in 1826 the Fort was sold at private auction and then transformed into holiday residences

In 1942 during the establishment of the Atlantic Wall, it was occupied by the German army who installed anti-aircraft guns

After 'D'Day in 1944, the fort returned to civilian hands, initially it was owed by the mayor of Saint Servan who then sold it in 1959 to singer Léo Ferré who lived there until 1968

Over the next 20 years it fell into disrepair but in 1996 it was purchased by the Ferres Porcher family who restored it to it's present state