One of the attractions of Brest, a small town on the coast of the Atlantic ocean, the Tanguy tower, structure spanning 25 meters in height. The exact date of its construction is still unknown, according to assumptions, it was erected in the XIV century, between 1341 and 1364. The initiators of the construction referred to as the British, who occupied the city during the war of the Breton succession – one of the military conflicts of the times of the hundred years war.

It's a circular tower topped with a conical roof, was part of the city fortifications, and later even performed the functions of the County jail. In 1862 by the architect Barile was made the first reconstruction of the building, and in the second half of the twentieth century – the second. After the first reconstruction of the tower acquired the roof in the Chinese style, and after the second - some additional decoration.

The Tanguy tower is located on the Gulf of Panfield opposite Brest castle. Since 1954, this building is under the control of the municipal authorities, and prior to that was in private ownership by different owners.

Today the building houses the Museum of the city before the Second world war. The Museum was opened in July 1962. In the collection of the Museum contains documents, artwork and other exhibits – antique maps of Brest, photographs and engravings, collections of weapons and coats of arms, local folklore, as well as dioramas with scenes from the history of the city, made with a high degree of realism and authenticity by a local artist Jim Sevellec. These installations give an idea of how it looked Brest at the beginning of the XVIII century and the beginning of XX century. They represented the neighborhoods and streets of the city, including the quarter Recouvrant and city market. One of the dioramas reproduces the visit to Brest in 1858 Napoleon III.