Vannes

Vannes stands at the head of an inlet of the Gulf of Morbihan, its walls enclosing a town of narrow streets and a cathedral. A port and a seat of the dukes of Brittany, it drew wealth from the surrounding countryside and the sheltered waters of the gulf. Its political importance made it a frequent meeting place for the Estates of Brittany.

In 1532 Francis I met the Breton Estates at Vannes. Their deputies requested the perpetual union of Brittany with France while seeking the preservation of the province's privileges; the union was formalised later that year. Vannes also housed Brittany's sovereign court from 1535 to 1553. After the revolt against new taxes in 1675, Louis XIV transferred the Parlement from Rennes to Vannes, where it remained until 1690. The city's streets again accommodated the magistrates and business of a provincial capital.