Brest

Brest occupies a sheltered harbour near Brittany’s western extremity, close to the approaches to the English Channel and the Atlantic. Its castle formed the centre of the medieval settlement. During the Breton succession struggles, Brest passed into English hands in 1342 and remained there until 1397; for England it helped secure communications with Gascony.

In 1631 Cardinal Richelieu established a naval harbour with wooden quays. Colbert later rebuilt the quays in masonry, and Vauban strengthened the defences in 1680–1688. An Anglo-Dutch attack failed in 1694. The town grew around the arsenal, and a naval academy was founded there in 1752, reflecting Brest's expanding role in the French navy.