Saint-Brieuc

Saint-Brieuc grew around its cathedral on the northern coast of Brittany, above the valleys leading down to the harbour of Le Légué. The town was an episcopal centre, its church and market serving the surrounding country. Near the mouth of the Gouët, the tower of Cesson guarded the approach from the bay. During the Wars of the League in the late sixteenth century, the fortress became a contested position between supporters of the Catholic League and the royal party. Its commanding site helped control access to the town from the sea.