The Viking Fortress of Peran

Péran's Camp

Viking Fortress

Situated a 9km (5.6 miles) S-W of Saint Brieuc in the county of "Côtes d'Armor" (Brittany - France), this landscape has been wellknown by historians and archeologists for a century. It has been part of the historical munuments list since 1875.
Successively considered as gaulish, celtic, roman and mediaeval, it was listed in the 2nd iron age fortresses'inventory by British historians in 1957.
Péran's camp is a defensive placed on a 160m (525 feet) high table-land upon the valley of the Urne, little river that crosses the city of Plédran. The camp covers 2 1/2 acres. It has the aspect of an oval enclosure with a double defensive system of moats and a vitrified stones rampart.
The excavations took place from 1983 to 1990 and were stopped because the lack of specialized archeologists granted by the government. They allowed to discover that the Vikings who hold parts of Brittany and Normandy had settled in Péran's camp until there defeat in front of Alain BARBETORTE.

Péran's camp, fortified place of living sheltered warriors and rurals. They used tools, weapons and parings comparable with the nordic world ones.
Viking's settlement traces are very rare in France. The sepulture of Pitres (in Normandy), two boat-like sepultures, perhaps a Viking cremation viking in the east of Cotentin (retrenchment of Hague-Dike has not been identified as a Scandinavian possession yet).
Péran's Camp is, therefore, an exceptional and well preserved excavation place.
In the city of Plédran, an little exposure known as an interpretation will make you discover archeological pieces and, above all, boards illustrated by Paula Giauffret's drawings and photos. It suggests you and historical explanation showing you misunderstood part of our history (between 900 and 950 after J.C.)

Renovated rampart in Peran's camp


Centre archéologique de Péran 17 rue du centre 22960 Plédran France Letters and documents in English are welcome President : J.L. Paute Vice President : P. Giauffret Webmaster : A. Giauffret	2 Links Labyrinth (Georgetown)