Pontivy
Napoleonic Heritage
Discovery Trail
“
A puzzle book
offering a fun
way to explore
the Napoleonic
quarter!
”
For young visitors
aged 8 years and over
“
Hello, I’m Bee and, along with Eagle, I was one of the
favourite symbols used by Napoleon I and his nephew,
Napoleon III. They ruled France in the 19th century and, while
they were in power, Pontivy was called Napoléonville.
At that time, the town
underwent major changes
and I would really like to
rediscover today what those
changes were. But it is such a
long time since I’ve been here
that I’m a bit lost! Perhaps
you could come with me on
my tour and keep me right?
4
3
5
”
1
Fran
çois
Mitte
The trail visits 15 major
sites in the town that were
created in the 19th century.
You can use the maps in this
booklet as a guide – and don’t
forget to keep your eyes
peeled!
2
2
6
Rue
rrand
Trail sites 1 to 6
3
Site 1
Rue Impériale
When Pontivy was called Napoléonville, the
street named rue Nationale was known as rue
Impériale. Today this street still links the Old
Town with the ‘new’ Napoleonic quarter built in
the 19th century. The buildings constructed in this
quarter are very different from the older houses
in Pontivy.
Irregular
Look carefully
at the buildings
and match each
description
with the
corresponding
photo.
Flat
Built mainly of stone
Built mainly of wood
Relief
A house in the Old
Town
An apartment block in the
Napoleonic quarter
This large square was designed in
the 19th century and became the
heart of the town. To the east
side of the square you can see a
statue of Frédéric Le Normand
de Lourmel.
Can you see what he’s wearing?
Lourmel was a soldier who
served under Napoleon III.
r Napoleon III ordered all French
streets to be called after his
generals.
r General Lourmel was born in a house
on this street.
r General Lourmel liked to stroll
Site 2
Place
Napoléon
le Grand
Passing by the
chateau,
I noticed a
street bearing
the name of
this soldier –
rue de Lourmel.
Why do you
think the street
was called
after him?
along this street.
4
5
Site 3
The Law
Courts
Compare the
‘Palais de Justice’
in front of
you with this
drawing of a
Greek temple.
Can you find the
features they
have in common?
Circle the
corresponding
words.
Look at how the architecture of this building, the
‘Palais de Justice’, which houses the law courts, is
austere and imposing. The architect deliberately
designed it to impress all those coming to face
trial here.
Like many law court buildings in the 19th century,
the style of this ‘Palais de Justice’ is inspired by
Greek and Roman temples.
1
2
Triangular pediment
Triglyph
Metope
Acroterion
3
Step
6
This building, known as the ‘Hôtel de la Caisse
d’Épargne’, was constructed to house the town’s
first savings bank. The people deposited their
money here and left it with the bank for a while
in the hope of withdrawing more than they had
invested.
4
Site 4
The original
Savings Bank
(Number 18 rue
Carnot)
Oh dear! I’ve
mixed up all my
photos. Help me
find which ones
show details of
the old savings
bank by circling
the corresponding numbers.
Column
7
This building encloses the west side of the square.
Do you see how austere, regular and symmetrical
its architecture is?
It has practically no decoration.
Site 5
The Cavalerie
Quarter
This building was constructed to house Pontivy’s
town hall (‘Hôtel de Ville’) and government offices
(‘Sous-préfecture’). Unlike the ‘Palais de Justice’
(see Site 3) that was built to impress, this building
was designed to make the town’s inhabitants
feel welcome. Its architecture is therefore not
intimidating, but resembles that of a small palace
or chateau.
1
Clue
What do you
think this
building was
used for?
8
Motte and bailey
castle
Fortified castle
The Town
Hall and
Government
Offices
Which type of
chateau architecture do you
think was the
inspiration for
this building?
Circle the
correct number.
If you look closely at the inscription above
the doorway, you’ll see that it’s also called the
‘Quartier Clisson’, or Clisson Quarter, after Olivier
de Clisson, a great soldier of the Middle Ages.
r As lodgings for firemen
r As barracks for soldiers and their
horses
r As a prison for horse thieves
2
Site 6
3
Stately home
9
6
Mitte
11
rran
d
10
7
In 1858, Emperor Napoleon III and his wife,
Empress Eugenie, made a grand tour of Brittany
and stayed at Pontivy. It was a huge honour for
the town.
During the tour, the emperor gifted a sum of
money for the building of the church in front of
you. Unfortunately, it was not enough to cover
the building costs and the church was never
finished!
You can see this in details such as the unfinished
capitols (tops of the columns) which have not
been sculpted.
8
Sculpted capitol
9
10
Sites 7 to 11
Unfinished capitol
Site 7
Church of
Saint Joseph
Look closely at
the bell-tower
columns. How
many unfinished
capitols are
there?
11
Site 8
This building, known as the ‘Magasin à Fourrage’,
was constructed to store fodder and provisions
for the horses of the soldiers lodged in the
Clisson Quarter (see Site 5).
What exactly do you think was stored here?
It was during the time of Napoleon III that the
railway arrived in Pontivy. Most stations built in
Brittany at that time are similar. The architects
used the same materials in their construction.
The Railway
Station
The Provisions
Store
To find out, fill
in the blanks
with the letters
underlined in
the following
words that
the official in
charge of the
fodder store
might well have
spoken.
Montaigu Station (Vendée region)
“What the devil! Don’t you dare strike that
match! It might set f ire to the fodder and burn
down the whole building. Only once you’re home
can you sit back and smoke your pipe!”
and
12
Site 9
Red brick
Wood
White render (coating)
Tiles
Slates
Stone (granite)
Look at this
photo of Montaigu Station
and compare it
with the station
in Pontivy.
Can you help
me find which
materials were
used in both
buildings? Circle
the words that
correspond.
13
Site 10
The Bank
of France
Formerly offices of the ‘Banque de France’, this
was one of the first houses to be built in the
Napoleonic quarter. Its architecture is quite
austere and symmetrical. Only a few small
rectangular features located beneath the
overhanging roof lighten the style a little.
(Number 83, rue
Nationale)
Drat! I can’t
remember the
name for these
small decorative
features. Can
you remind me?
Find the missing
letters from each
of these words
describing
features on a
house to spell
out the name.
14
This wide, tree-lined avenue was laid out in the
19th century. Did you notice the two statues at
the entrance to the boulevards?
They are a more recent addition dating from the
middle of the 20th century. They are dressed to
represent a man and woman from Pontivy.
Granite
r
Wood
r
Schist
r
Site 11
Boulevards
AlsaceLorraine
Marble
r
Look carefully
at the statues.
What are they
made of?
Do
Dorm
S
s
himney
r
oof
alcony
r
ate
15
This house was built for the commanding officer
of the garrison stationed in Pontivy. If you turn
round and look back, you can see the Clisson
Quarter at the far end of the square (see Site 5).
Do you see how the road runs straight up here?
This was rather handy for the commander who
could keep an eye on that part of the town just
by looking out his window.
15
14
13
11
16
Sites 12 to 15
12
Site 12
The Town
Commander’s
Residence
As a souvenir
of this
handsome house,
I’ve drawn
a picture
of the main
facade. There’s
something not
quite right
about it though.
Can you spot
the errors?
(5 in all)
17
Site 13
The Imperial
School
I can’t quite
remember what
each feature on
the coat of
arms is called.
Help me find
the words I’m
looking for by
answering the
questions and
solving the
coded messages.
3
Just imagine! This secondary school, called the
‘Lycée Impérial’, was one of the very first to open
in Brittany. Above the door you can see a coat
of arms that was used to represent the town of
Pontivy at the end of the 19th and beginning of
the 20th century.
1
2
Key to code:
Made up of towers and walls, this feature
indicates that the coat of arms represents a town.
1
What do you think this feature is called?
r A royal crown
r A crown of laurels
r A mural crown
2
13 1 19 3 12 5 19
= n;
= o;
= p;
=t
Did you know that the town is
said to have been founded in the
7th century by a monk called Ivy
(pronounced ‘eevy’). According
to tradition, he had a bridge built
over the Blavet, known as the ‘pont
d’Ivy’ (Ivy’s bridge), and hence the
name Pontivy.
3
4
The blank diamond or lozenge shapes are taken
from the coat of arms of the Rohan family whose
members were overlords of Pontivy from the
Middle Ages until the French Revolution.
Find out what the shapes are called.
This feature is a reminder of the
town’s origins. Find out what it is
called in French.
4
This decorative feature is a
symbol of Brittany. Rearrange the
following syllables to find out what
it is called:
MI
ER
NE
Key to code:
1 = a; 2 = b; 3 = c and so on
18
19
The Food
MarketsTheatre
The
architectural
features were
chosen to suit
the use made
of the building.
What do you
think each floor
was used for?
Match the floor
with its corresponding use.
20
Ground floor •
First floor •
The two canals that pass through Pontivy were
laid out in the 19th century. This basin is where
they meet. In the past, canals provided a practical
way of transporting goods.
Hennebont
• Theatre
• Food markets
Site 15
The Canal
Junction Basin
Paris
Pontivy
Site 14
This building was designed to house two
institutions – the market (‘Les Halles’) where
goods were bought and sold and the theatre (‘Le
Théâtre’) where various types of shows were put
on. Look at the building carefully and you’ll see
that each floor has its own particular features.
The ground floor has wide arcades and the first
floor has small, rectangular windows.
Nantes
Brest
Rennes
Do you know
where you can
travel to by
canal from
Pontivy? Find
out by helping
me get through
this maze! It
should lead us
to 3 possible
destinations.
21
Third Republic 1870-1940
1852-1870
1848-1852
Second Empire
Second Republic
First Empire 1804-1814
First Republic 1792-1804
Emperor
Napoleon
III
Restoration
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
19th c.
20th c.
Modern
period
Renaissance
Middle Ages
Antiquity
21st c.
23
Answers
1830-1848:
July Monarchy
Louis-Philippe
Second Restoration
of the monarchy
Louis XVIII and Charles X
June 1815-1830:
March-June 1815:
The Hundred Days
Napoleon I
First Restoration
of the monarchy
Louis XVIII
April 1814 – March 1815
1820
Today
1800 1900 2000
1600
Site 10: The rectangular features
beneath the overhanging roof are
CORBELS. (‘Modillons’ in French).
Site 11: The statues are made from
granite.
Site 12: The five errors are from
top to bottom: Chimney on the
left is missing, central dormer has
a triangular pediment instead of a
semi-circular one, part of the left
side of the central dormer is missing,
the right-hand dormer has a square
instead of a round window and the
projecting decorative stonework
(known in French and English as
‘bossage’) on the upper left-hand
corner of the facade is missing.
Site 13: The four features on the
coat of arms are: Mural crown,
Mascles, ‘Pont’ (bridge) and Ermine.
Site 14: The food market was on the
ground floor where the wide arcades
made it easier to come and go, and
the theatre was on the first floor.
Site 15: The two canals that meet
in Pontivy are the Blavet Canal and
the Nantes-Brest Canal. The possible
destinations are therefore Brest,
Hennebont and Nantes.
Emperor
Napoleon
I
1810
1500
500
Site 1: Descriptions matching the
half-timbered house: Irregular, Relief,
Built mainly of wood.
Descriptions matching the 19thcentury apartment block: Flat, Built
mainly of stone
Site 2: General Lourmel was born in a
house on this street.
Site 3: Words to circle: Triangular
pediment, Column, Steps.
Site 4: Details in photos number 2
and 3 belong to the building.
Site 5: The building was used as
barracks for soldiers and their horses.
Site 6: Answer 3: The architect was
inspired by the chateau designed as a
stately home. The wings forming the
sides of the U-shaped building are
like arms outstretched to welcome
the visitor.
Site 7: 8 capitols have been left
unfinished.
Site 8: STRAW and HAY.
Site 9: The two stations have the
following materials in common: Red
brick, White render, Slates and Stone
(granite).
22
1800
0
A brief timeline and some dates from French history
Design:
Ville de Pontivy, Direction
Education-Animation, service
patrimoine – Town of Pontivy
- Education and Activities Heritage Services, 2009
Translation: Anne Withers
Graphic design:
nuancesgraphiques.com
Bee illustrations:
Gwendal Le Bayon
Printing: IBB Hennebont
Printed on paper from sustainably
managed forests
Illustrations:
Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12,
13 and15:
© Ville de Pontivy.
Site 6:
Drawings of the chateaux
of La Tusque at Saint-Eulalie
(Gironde) and of Sully-surLoire (Loiret) by Eugène
Viollet-Le-Duc, Dictionnaire
raisonné de l’architecture
française du XIe au XVe siècle,
1854-1868. Drawing of
the chateau in the style of
a stately home © Ville de
Pontivy
Sites 8 and 14:
Talairach, François
© Ville de Pontivy, 2004.
Site 9: © Ville de Montaigu
Site 11 (statues):
Le Divenah, François
© Ville de Pontivy, 2008.
This booklet belongs to:
Comprising fifteen challenges, this booklet was devised to
enable young visitors (from 8 years upwards) to explore
Pontivy’s Napoleonic past in an entertaining way. This
booklet and the accompanying guide for adults provide
specially designed materials that allow parents and children
to enjoy a walk together that is rich in historical, natural and
cultural heritage.
Acknowledgements:
Michel Tatard, Auriane, Cyndie,
François, Laura, Marion