Abstract EN:

At the beginning of the 19th century, Breton towns are constricted by their medieval walls. Two centuries later, they feel proud of having preserved and enhanced this heritage. When the upkeep of urban walls became the bailiwick of Breton municipalities, the old fortifications were dealt with as any other piece of real estate, still, urbanistic inertia furthered passive preservation. The wish to preserve this historical heritage, backed by local erudites, merged at national level with the steps followed by the Commission for Historical Monuments. The acknowledgement of ramparts as historical monuments, both by populations and municipalities, resulted in numerous efforts which at times only occurred very late in the 20th century. Nevertheless, after a problematic integration into the sphere of heritage, medieval walls have become a major asset in the field of media communication over the last twenty years, and they are often used to back up the patrimonial communication of towns