Place Alan II
Purpose / Function
The main square of Naoned, home to the Duke's castle and the largest marketplace in the city. Located to the Northeast of Feydeau Island and directly East of the Place du Vin, it marks the Easternmost district of the city proper. The Ducal Palace can be found in the Northeastern corner, where it connects to the outer curtain wall of the city ramparts. The square and its immediate area are surrounded by a three-sided wall, open to the river, separating it from the larger city, although additional walls stretch further to encompass other districts.
Within these walls, the district is home to several noteworthy administrative offices, including the city garrison, the treasury and mint, the court of justice and the tax office, among others. Smaller offices and the residences of civil servants take up the rest of the space. The central featuring, before the main gate into the castle complex, is a large open plaza, built around an equestrian statue of Alain II, the first Duke of Breizh, located atop an elaborate fountain. This plaza, surrounded by sandstone and half-timbered buildings on the Northern and Western sides, opens up to a large lagoon, which can be controlled with a network of locks and sluices. This pool is used for all manner of public events, including the water-jousting of Hastiludes, the festival of Emwalc'h and the floating markets of Lughnasadh.
Tourism
The district is a haven for the arts, as painters, trouveres, and other artisans make their way to the island in hopes of obtaining the patronage of the discerning elite. The plazas and squares of the district are often packed with artistic types, heavily observed and regulated by the City Watch and artisan's guilds, which make a tidy profit off of those willing and able to pay for licenses.
Alternative Names
Dukesgate
Type
Market square
Parent Location
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Comments