Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu, located in Moncontour (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Moncontour, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3616, -2.6314
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089336
In the heart of Moncontour, a medieval town in the Côtes-d'Armor region, this 17th-century town house epitomises the understated elegance of the Breton bourgeoisie, with its granite facades and characteristic pedimented dormers.
History
Nestling in the cobbled streets of Moncontour, one of Brittany's most beautiful villages, the former Hôtel de Kerjégu is a striking example of Breton civil architecture from the Grand Siècle. Far from the splendour of Versailles, it embodies the austere, controlled elegance that distinguished the aristocracy and upper middle classes of the Armorican region, keen to assert their rank without excessive ostentation. The residence stands out in the urban fabric of Moncontour with discreet authority. Its façade of local granite, a stone that is omnipresent in buildings in the Armor region, combines solidity and nobility. The well-balanced proportions of the openings, the meticulous modelling and the sculpted details of the window surrounds bear witness to a patron who was keenly aware of the architectural codes of his time, and attentive to the classical influences that spread from Paris to Breton towns throughout the 17th century. Visiting the Hôtel de Kerjégu also means immersing yourself in the unique atmosphere of Moncontour, a walled town perched on its rocky outcrop, whose medieval ramparts still encircle a remarkably coherent town centre. The monument is part of a protected urban ensemble that includes a number of town houses and character residences, forming one of the finest examples of a preserved Breton village. For those with a passion for civil architecture or attentive strollers, the façade gradually reveals its secrets: the quality of the stonework, the balance of the volumes, the subtle hierarchy of the storeys. It is in this dialogue between the dark granite stone and the changing light of Brittany that the building finds its full expression, particularly striking in the morning or late autumn afternoon.
Architecture
The Hôtel de Kerjégu is in the tradition of 17th-century Breton civil architecture, characterised by the almost exclusive use of local granite, a demanding but highly durable material. The main facade, laid out according to the classical canons of the period, features a symmetrical composition in which the openings - stone-panelled windows and carriage or pedestrian doors framed by pilasters - follow a logic of vertical and horizontal hierarchy borrowed from French classical vocabulary. The most remarkable architectural details are generally concentrated on the finely moulded window surrounds and the cornice crowning the façade. Dormers with triangular or curved pediments, typical of 17th-century Breton architecture, provide light for the attic space and give the roof its lively character. The Anjou or local slate roof, a traditional material in inland Brittany, completes the ensemble with the characteristic blue-black hue of Breton roofs. Inside, the layout reflects the aristocratic customs of the time: a vestibule distributing the reception rooms on the ground floor, the private flats on the upper floors, and the outbuildings in the wings or at the back of the plot. Carved granite fireplaces, wide oak floors and elaborate woodwork are the most characteristic interior features of these Breton bourgeois residences from the Grand Siècle.
Related Figures
La famille de Kerjégu — commanditaires présumés de l'édifice au XVIIe siècle, noblesse bretonne ayant donné son nom à la demeureLes maîtres maçons bretons du XVIIe siècle — artisans anonymes maîtrisant la taille du granite armoricain, bâtisseurs de l'hôtelLes inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques des années 1920 — experts ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription de 1926 et reconnu la valeur patrimoniale de l'édificeLes négociants en toile de Moncontour — milieu économique dont la prospérité au XVIIe siècle rendit possible la construction de tels hôtels particuliers en ville
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu located?
Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu is located in Moncontour, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu built?
Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu open to visitors?
Ancien hôtel de Kerjégu is currently closed to visitors.