Conchée (or large Conchée) is a strengthened rock small island located at broad in bay of Saint-Malo. Built by Vauban, the fort recovers the near total of the small island located vis-a-vis the great beach of Rochebonne.

True granite vessel, difficult to reach even in calm weather, the fort is currently in the course of restoration.

History

In 1689, Saint-Malo was then a center active Corsaire giving on the English Channel. A massive maritime attack conducted by the enemies of the Kingdom became very probable. During the inspection of the coastal fortifications, Sebastien Prestre de Vauban, architect of the King Louis XIV, decides to reinforce and improve its defenses.

Under his orders, the engineer-soldier Siméon Garangeau restores the ramparts of the city and built the Royal Fort (currently Fort National), the fort of the Petit Bey, the Fort Harbor and the fort of Conchée.

The choice of this small small island of Conchée (70 m length for 25 broad, and emerging only from 5-6 meters with high tide), encircled by violent one current and covered by the waves with each blow with wind, is a challenge.

But, between this rock and the coast, it there with the pit with Norman the . In this zone deprived of dangerous reefs, the sand funds are of good behavior and there is always enough water so that large warships can anchor their with range of guns of the strengthened city!

To protect the garrison in an isolated work, Vauban decides to build a single extremely-casemate in its kind. Vaults " the bomb proof " and of the bored very thick walls broad embrasures make it possible to the gunners to cover the pit with the Norman ones.

The realization of these arched underground rooms is an incomparable testimony of the extraordinary control of the military engineers of the 17th century.

the Fortress of Conchée will be, cy-after, the best fortress of the Kingdom, smallest and the best heard as it was most difficult to build because never work was not so much to it

Sebastien Prestre, marquis de Vauban

In 1695, it is as envisaged in the pit with Norman that comes to wet a very important squadron Anglo-Dutchwoman. Only one the southern third of the work is about finished but there is already artillery. United regard this obstacle as sufficiently awkward trying to destroy it as a preliminary by using guns and Brûlot S. In vain. The fort, having proven its effectiveness, fulfilled its role and there will be no more incursion into the pit with the Norman ones.

Essentially, the work is completed towards 1705 then altered and improved thereafter.

The fort is demilitarized in 1901, is given up during decades and strongly damaged during the release of Saint-Malo in 1944, it becomes, about 1946, the property of an architect, Mr. Cournon, then that of Mr. De Quenetain. In 1947, it is entirely classified historic building.

Restoration of the fort

In 1989, the Company of the Fort of Conchée , a group of a score in love one with the old stones, acquires of it in the only intention to restore it.

Hardly scratched by time and the storms, the fort of Conchée was seriously damaged during the last world war by German artillerists who used it like target of adjustment then, during the release of Saint-Malo, by shootings lost during Allié ramming of the island of Cézembre, bunkerized by the Germans. The quality of construction is such as the internal facing of the struck walls of full whip, with the height of an impact in the middle of the face is, did not move of a millimetre. On the other hand, the residences of the officers on the terrace and the point southern do not exist any more. Infiltrations of sea water and rain starting from the platform surbed little by little masonry: in spite of its robustness, the work ran then to the ruin.

To allow the unloading of the personnel and the material is the first stage for the restoration.

In 1993, a metal footbridge is installed with the southern point but it is too exposed. One second is installation on the side is, re-using some stairs out of original granite. The access remains delicate, even impossible when the undertow exceeds one meter.

In 2005, on the terrace, most of the residences of the Officers is rebuilt and a careful rejointing allows, little by little, the draining of the undergrounds.

All this work of quality is carried out under the control of an architect of the historic buildings. The safeguard of the fort east in right track but one will still need many efforts to restore this work.