Le Dellec

In the 1870s, France, having been defeated at Sedan, was preparing for new conflicts. In the East, the Maginot Line was built. On the coast, more and more batteries were built to guard against invasion from the sea. And once again, the Narrows were the focus of attention. At Le Dellec, a battery armed with four large-calibre cannons (32 cm) was added to the west of the fort, above the Grand Dellec beach.

The fort’s architecture developed slightly, with the buildings being transformed to meet new needs: observation posts, command posts and four small-calibre (47 mm) rapid-fire guns. However, by the First World War, twenty years later, these defences had been gradually stripped back, without ever having been used: the men and then the guns were called up to serve on the Eastern Fronts. During the Second World War, the fort was occupied by the German armies, who left their architectural mark on it, albeit to a limited extent. After the war, the navy continued to guard the fort, which was left in a state of relative neglect.

Although Dellec Fort has some 18th-century remains, such as the barracks, gunpowder store and caretaker’s house, most of its current architecture dates from the 19th century.

In 1992, the Ministry of Defence handed the fort over to the municipality of Plouzané, who gradually refurbished it and opened it to the public. Dellec Fort hosts a wide range of events, particularly during the summer season, and remains one of the most spectacular viewpoints over the Narrows.