Château de Caradeuc
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Caradeuc, located in Longaulnay (Département 35), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Longaulnay, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- Mérimée Reference
- PA35000039
The pearl of inland Brittany, Château de Caradeuc's classical facades are set in a French-style park dubbed the "Breton Versailles", dotted with statues and centuries-old hornbeams.
History
Nestling in the gentle hills of the Bécherel region, at Longaulnay in Ille-et-Vilaine, Château de Caradeuc stands out as one of the most refined aristocratic residences in Upper Brittany. Far from the medieval fortresses that dot the region, it embodies the triumph of the French art of living at the turn of the 18th century: sober lines, perfectly balanced volumes and carefully dressed blonde stone. What makes Caradeuc truly unique is the inseparable alliance between the château itself and its exceptional grounds - the largest private park in Brittany, open to the public. Designed in the style of the great compositions of the Grand Siècle, the park covers more than forty hectares and features a succession of majestic perspectives, shady paths, ponds and a remarkable collection of stone statues that punctuate each crossroads like so many milestones in a tormented aristocratic history. The estate is closely linked to the memory of Louis-René de Caradeuc de La Chalotais, Attorney General of the Parliament of Brittany and a key figure in parliamentary resistance to royal power under Louis XV. His resounding political disagreements with the Duc d'Aiguillon made Caradeuc a place steeped in intellectual and judicial history, just as France was about to tip over into the Revolution. A visit to the park, which is open to walkers, offers a unique experience: at every bend in the path, a statue emerges from the vegetation - allegories, mythological figures, portraits of illustrious figures - creating a constant dialogue between the stone and the reconquering wilderness. Photographers will find the late afternoon golden light particularly generous on the façades and foliage. For lovers of Breton history and classical heritage, Caradeuc is an essential stop-off point in an area rich in castles and medieval towns, just a few kilometres from the booksellers' town of Bécherel.
Architecture
Château de Caradeuc is a sober, elegant example of classical architecture, typical of the great Breton residences of the 18th century. The main building, constructed of quarried granite and rendered rubble stone in accordance with local practices, is organised around a U-shaped plan or a central body flanked by pavilions, in keeping with the canons of the French château de plaisance: facades punctuated by regular bays, pedimented dormers on Mansard-style roofs, and discreet pediments highlighting the entrances. The façades, devoid of the exuberant ornamentation of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, are balanced and measured, with stone bands marking the levels, carefully-cut stone surrounds for the windows and discreet modillions under the cornice. The overall effect is one of austere elegance, typical of Brittany, where decoration is expressed more in proportions than in ornamentation. The parklands are the architectural and landscaping centrepiece of the estate. Designed in the French style over more than forty hectares, it features rectilinear perspectives, tiered terraces, ponds and palisade-like arbours. Its collection of stone statues - including several mythological and allegorical representations from the 18th century - gives the park an open-air museum dimension that is exceptional for a private Breton estate. The park is unanimously considered to be the largest private park in Brittany, amply justifying its nickname of the "Breton Versailles".
Related Figures
Louis-René de Caradeuc de La Chalotais (1701-1785) — procureur général au parlement de Bretagne, philosophe des Lumières, figure de résistance parlementaireLe duc d'Aiguillon — gouverneur de Bretagne, adversaire politique de La Chalotais lors de l'Affaire de Bretagne sous Louis XVVoltaire — admirateur de La Chalotais, avec qui il entretint une correspondance soutenueLouis XV — roi de France dont les décisions provoquèrent la crise parlementaire bretonne liée au domaineLa famille de Caradeuc — lignée noble bretonne dont la seigneurie donna son nom au château dès le Moyen Âge
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Caradeuc located?
Château de Caradeuc is located in Longaulnay, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Château de Caradeuc built?
Château de Caradeuc dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Caradeuc open to visitors?
Château de Caradeuc is currently closed to visitors.