Ferme de Plouasne
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ferme de Plouasne, located in Plouasne (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
- Plouasne, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3241, -2.0167
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089459
In the heart of the Bécherel region, this 18th-century Breton farmhouse epitomises the authenticity of rural architecture in the Costarmor region, with its well-ordered facade and carved stone testifying to centuries of history.
History
Nestling in the bocage of Plouasne, on the edge of the Côtes-d'Armor region, this farmhouse, listed as a Historic Monument since 1987, is much more than just a farm building: it's a compendium of Brittany's rural soul, set in the local stone with a sobriety that commands respect. Its composite facade, arranged according to a logic of balance typical of 18th-century buildings, reveals the care taken by anonymous builders to give their home an architectural dignity that goes beyond its purely utilitarian function. What makes this building truly singular is the cohabitation on its walls of two epochs engraved in stone: 1742, which undoubtedly marks the completion or major renovation of the main building, and 1575, inscribed on a reused stone whose enigmatic presence refers to an earlier building or a neighbouring site that no longer exists. These two dates, separated by more than a century and a half, make each seat a soap opera in local history. The experience of discovering this farm is that of a peaceful change of scenery. Far from mass tourism, Plouasne offers a bucolic setting where time seems to stand still. The surrounding meadows, hedged farmland and sunken lanes that criss-cross the area make it an ideal place to stroll and reflect on what life was like in the Breton countryside under the Ancien Régime. The quality of the buildings - carefully coursed granite, carefully punctuated openings - testifies to a certain level of affluence for the period, suggesting a prosperous farm whose owners intended to mark their success over the long term. This architectural model, representative of the Costa Rican region, is precisely what the Ministry of Culture felt justified its inclusion on the list of Historic Monuments: its value is not exceptional, it is exemplary.
Architecture
The Plouasne farmhouse is a particularly coherent example of the large family of rural granite houses in northern Brittany. The main facade, oriented according to local custom to maximise sunlight and protection from the prevailing westerly winds, has a balanced layout typical of the rural 18th century: the openings - doors and windows - are arranged regularly, without excessive ornamental detailing, but with a clear concern for symmetry and proportion. Local granite, the bluish-grey characteristic of the Costa Rican subsoil, is used almost exclusively for the walls, which are laid in neat courses that reveal a real mastery of the quarryman's and mason's trade. The window frames, probably made of finer cut granite, discreetly mark the openings. The roof, in the Breton tradition, is probably covered in slate - the region's most popular roofing material since ancient times - with steep slopes adapted to the rainy climate of Armorique. The two vintage stones set into the façade are the only truly decorative elements of the whole, transforming these simple inscriptions into an architectural manifesto: here, stone speaks. The volumetric layout of the main building follows the traditional plan of the elongated, sober and functional Breton house, probably originally flanked by outbuildings forming a semi-enclosed courtyard. Taken as a whole, this group of buildings is a perfect example of what historians of vernacular architecture call "architecture of necessity" - architecture that, without any artistic pretensions, achieves a form of beauty through a perfect match between the programme, the materials available and local know-how.
Related Figures
Bâtisseur de 1742 — maître de l'exploitation agricole ayant commandé la reconstruction ou l'agrandissement du logisPropriétaire inconnu de 1575 — à l'origine de la pierre de remploi la plus ancienne, témoin d'un édifice antérieur disparuInspecteur des Monuments Historiques (1987) — expert ayant instruit et défendu le dossier d'inscription patrimoniale de l'édificeTailleurs de pierre locaux du XVIIIe siècle — artisans anonymes costarmoricains maîtrisant l'art du granite breton
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ferme de Plouasne located?
Ferme de Plouasne is located in Plouasne, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ferme de Plouasne built?
Ferme de Plouasne dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ferme de Plouasne open to visitors?
Ferme de Plouasne is currently closed to visitors.