Ferme de Kerblouz
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ferme de Kerblouz, located in Glomel (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
- Glomel, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.2045, -3.3652
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089161
In the heart of central Brittany, Kerblouz farmhouse is the embodiment of 17th-century Armorican rural architecture in all its granite sobriety. A rare example of Breton peasant life, it is listed as a Historic Monument.
History
Nestling in the hedged farmland of Glomel, on the edge of the Côtes-d'Armor region, Kerblouz farm is one of those discreet buildings that carry with them the memory of a rural civilisation. Built in the third quarter of the 17th century, it belongs to that rare category of Breton farms that have survived the centuries without losing their original architectural coherence. What sets Kerblouz apart from the countless farm buildings in the region is its remarkable integrity. The buildings, arranged around an enclosed courtyard in the tradition of Central Brittany farms, retain their original volumes and typical construction vocabulary: granite walls, carefully carved window surrounds, long-sloped roofs covered in dark slate. Here, the stone speaks directly, without superfluous ornamentation, with the directness typical of Breton vernacular architecture. The visitor experience offers an authentic immersion in the everyday life of farms in ancient inland Brittany. Far from the glitz of coastal manor houses or renowned abbeys, Kerblouz invites you to take a more intimate look at a structured, hard-working farming world, rooted in a deep relationship with the land and the local granite. The farm also illustrates a pivotal moment in the Breton economy, when the large farms of Poher were beginning to take on a lasting architectural form. The natural setting amplifies the emotion of the place. Glomel, a commune in the Poher region, offers a landscape of moorland, hedged farmland and gentle hills that is characteristic of Central Brittany. Close to the artificial lake of Guerlédan and the heights of the Monts du Mené, the farm is part of a preserved environment that reinforces its character as an unspoilt testimony to a deep and authentic Brittany.
Architecture
Kerblouz farm is in the great tradition of the enclosed farmyards of Central Brittany, an architectural type that organises the living and working quarters around a central space protected from the prevailing westerly winds. The building is constructed from local granite, a rock that is ubiquitous in the Poher subsoil, with squared rubble for the load-bearing walls and carefully cut stone for the door and window frames. The steeply pitched roof, as is customary in Brittany, is covered in dark local slate, whose bluish tones contrast with the light grey of the granite. The elevation of the main dwelling is sober but not without quality: the openings are topped by monolithic lintels, sometimes slightly chamfered in keeping with the minimalist decorative tradition typical of 17th-century Breton rural architecture. There is probably a bread oven built into the masonry, a monumental granite fireplace and a vaulted cellar, typical features of well-off farms from this period in the Poher region. The outbuildings - stables, barn and hayloft - are arranged in an L or U shape around the courtyard, creating a functional and coherent ensemble that bears witness to a well-thought-out approach to agricultural space. The entrance to the courtyard is marked by a porch or gateway, the dressed granite jambs of which indicate the care taken in the overall composition. This concern for architectural coherence, combined with the quality of the materials and the solidity of the construction, makes Kerblouz a representative - and particularly well-preserved - example of Breton rural architecture from the second half of the 17th century.
Related Figures
Famille paysanne fondatrice de Kerblouz (identité précise non documentée, probables exploitants aisés du Poher, vers 1650-1675)Seigneur local ou chapitre ecclésiastique possiblement bailleur de la terre sur laquelle la ferme fut édifiéeMaçons et tailleurs de pierre bretons anonymes, artisans de la tradition constructive locale en granite du PoherSuccesseurs propriétaires des XVIIIe et XIXe siècles ayant assuré la transmission et la préservation de l'ensemble bâtiInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription, concrétisé par l'arrêté du 3 décembre 1987
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ferme de Kerblouz located?
Ferme de Kerblouz is located in Glomel, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ferme de Kerblouz built?
Ferme de Kerblouz dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ferme de Kerblouz open to visitors?
Ferme de Kerblouz is currently closed to visitors.
