Well ,again, was by the area and why not tell you all about this wonderful building even if not touristic ,the architecture and history are wonderful indeed.The administration government house. I had mentioned it before, but this is new pictures from my stop by today. Let me tell you again more on the Préfecture of the Morbihan in Vannes ,part II ! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Préfecture of the Morbihan is an administrative building located in Vannes, capital of my beautiful department 56 of Morbihan, and in my lovely region of Bretagne, and of course, in my belle France. The préfécture or regional government building at Rue Alain le Grand is for official events only as the administrative part is elsewhere in city center behind the post office and next to the courthouse so at 24 Place de la République (the one folks like me go to).
The official préfecture was inaugurated in 1865, this prestigious building is built on the site of a former convent. A large park surrounds this U-shaped building. On the pediment, a bas relief shows two important figures in the history of Brittany: Nominoë and Alain Barbetorte, as well as the imperial eagle and the arrival of the railway at Vannes in 1862.
The Préfecture of the Morbihan is surrounded by a five hectare park. Most of it consists of an English garden designed in 1862 by Louis-Sulpice Varé, landscape architect from Paris, author of the Bois de Boulogne. Placed below the archives wing, a 5,000 m2 French-style garden was re-designed in 1975. The winter garden created around the years 1880-1890, this piece echoes the English gardens designed in 1862 by Louis-Sulpice Varé.
The building has a floor surmounted by a mansard roof. Its central, raised part is cushioned by a rounded pediment where the imperial eagle and two armed figures are carved (Nominoë and Alain Barbe-Torte, hero of Breton independence). A bull’s-eye lights up the dome above the central pavilion. Two wings frame the main courtyard. An arched passage, fitted out under the left pavilion, leads to the outbuildings. The ground floor of the main building is reserved for ceremonial rooms. In the wings are the offices ,and apartments of the Secretary General. The park was designed by the English landscape designer John Wallen from 1863 to 1865. In 1920, a granite building intended for the departmental archives completed the ensemble.
I must add a bit of history I like from the official Préfecture site:
Supported by the Notre-Dame tower, a fortified residence was built in the 9C or 10C which first housed the counts of Vannes, then the dukes of Brittany: Waroch, Nominoé, Erispoé, Paskweten, Geoffroy 1st, Pierre de Dreux , John 1st. The latter, who preferred Suscinio, ceded La Motte to the Bishop of Vannes and took the name of Episcopal Manor of La Motte. The bishops of Vannes will now live in the “episcopal manor” leaning against the northern walls of the city. Under the presence of François 1st King of France, it was in the large room of the episcopal manor where the request for the reunion of Brittany with France was deliberated in 1532 in the congregation and assembly of the States. The last bishop Sébastien-Michel Amelot who lived there abandoned La Motte in 1791, following his refusal to take the oath to the civil constitution of the clergy. Nine years later, the Morbihan prefecture was established there until 1866, when the Manor was sold. It was destroyed during the breakthrough of rue Billaut through the ramparts and the old Motte park to the lyrical encouragement of the prefect. After the French revolution, Vannes was chosen as the capital of Morbihan and it was in this building that the directorate of the department was installed, in 1793, which was succeeded, in March 1800, by the first prefect of Morbihan, on the occasion of the transfer from the prefecture of the former episcopal palace of La Motte to the gardens of the former Dominican convent, The city of Vannes undertook a large-scale project and chose a new location, preference was given to the Faubourg Saint -Patern, where vast gardens surrounded the former Dominican convent, assigned to the imperial gendarmerie since 1793, then left vacants ; the building will be in the Louis XIII style , After destruction of the old buildings, the first stone wa laid on February 2, 1863. In 1864, the pediments of the main courtyard and the south facade were done; two years later, the iron banister of the main staircase was installed. Finally, on August 23, 1865, the prefect gave a ball for the inauguration of his new apartments and, shortly after, the offices moved into their premises. The prefecture in the 20C located on Place du Général de Gaulle, Built at the end of the Second Empire, on the site of the Dominican convent, it would have been intended to become the summer residence of the Prince Imperial, son of Napoleon III. It is in fact a vast granite palace designed in the style of the 17C and benefiting from an extensive park. The large grille of the main courtyard comes from the choir of the cathedral (18C). This harmonious ensemble is completed , along rue Alain Le Grand, a granite building built between 1912 and 1922, to house the departmental archives. The prefecture is a beautiful granite monument, in classical style, built by order of Napoleon III, while going around the ramparts, its flowery garden and its park with its beautiful foliage.
The official Préfecture of the Morbihan contact info: https://www.morbihan.gouv.fr/Outils/Horaires-et-coordonnees
The city of Vannes on the préfecture: https://www.mairie-vannes.fr/vannesdecouverte/histoire-et-patrimoine/qr-patrimoine/la-prefecture-en-detail/
There you go folks , the préfecture, I only went to renew my Dad residency card as an American retiree. Well, no longer needed to go as my dear late Dad Elio passed away on January 7 2023 with me in our house, I need to say the paperwork was flawless and friendly even with a laugh with a kind administration. The building worth a look and the gardens are to visit as open in afternoons. The area is near the ramparts and lovely spot to walk around indeed. We usually parked by the ramparts area when around here, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Préfecture of the Morbihan in Vannes ,part II ! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 