Manoir de Kerauzern
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir de Kerauzern, located in Ploubezre (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Manor
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Ploubezre, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.6617, -3.4496
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089472
Nestling in the heart of Brittany's Trégor region, the Kerauzern manor house boasts five centuries of seigniorial architecture, from the Gothic mullions of the 15th century to the great granite fireplaces of the 17th century, still intact and superb.
History
At the end of an enclosed courtyard where the silence of old stones reigns, the Kerauzern manor house stands out as one of those discreet jewels that Brittany knows so well how to hide between moors and hedged farmland. In Ploubezre, in the Côtes-d'Armor region, this seigniorial estate comprises two main buildings built two centuries apart, forming a rare architectural dialogue between late Gothic and classical Breton architecture. What makes Kerauzern truly unique is the extraordinary integrity of its interiors. Where so many manor houses have seen their chimneys torn out or replaced, all the old granite fireplaces have survived the centuries unaltered. These monumental fireplaces, hewn from the hard local granite, bear witness to the skills of the local quarrymen and stonemasons, and offer visitors a direct insight into the domestic life of the Breton gentry. The grand staircase with its straight steps and wide landings is the other centrepiece of the visit. Designed to impress as much as to move around, it reveals the social ambitions of its 17th-century patrons, who were keen to show off their rank in a Brittany that was still jealous of its own freedoms and architectural traditions. The atmosphere is that of a preserved residence rather than a museum. The vegetation lining the courtyard, the grey stone gilded with lichen, the sobriety of the facades with no superfluous ornamentation: everything contributes to an authentic experience, far removed from artificial reconstructions. Kerauzern will appeal to lovers of vernacular architecture, enthusiasts of Breton history and photographers looking for soft lighting on ancient granite.
Architecture
The Kerauzern manor house is a typical example of a Breton seigneurial estate organised around an enclosed courtyard, according to a defensive and representative system inherited from the Middle Ages. There are two main buildings, built two centuries apart but united by a common material - bluish-grey granite from Trégor - which gives the whole a striking visual coherence despite the diversity of styles. The 15th-century dwelling at the far end of the courtyard retains its Gothic mullioned window, an architectural feature emblematic of the late flamboyant Gothic style in rural Brittany. These mullions, carefully carved from hard stone, divide the opening into regular compartments and bear witness to a certain technical mastery. The 17th-century building on the left-hand side of the courtyard adopts a more sober, rectilinear vocabulary, typical of classical Breton architecture: straight-headed windows, steeply pitched roofs covered in dark slate and façades stripped of all superfluous ornamentation. The interior contains two exceptionally complete treasures. The granite mantels, all preserved in their original state, illustrate the work of the local stonemasons: wide, robust hoods, discreetly moulded jambs and thick shelves. The grand staircase with its straight steps and wide landings represents a major innovation for its time in Brittany, replacing the traditional medieval stone spiral staircase with an easier, more representative form of circulation worthy of the social ambitions of the 17th-century patron.
Related Figures
Famille noble locale du Trégor (XVe siècle) — commanditaires du premier logis gothiqueSeigneurs de Kerauzern (XVIIe siècle) — maîtres d'ouvrage du second corps de logis et des aménagements intérieursInspecteur des Monuments Historiques (1926) — responsable de l'inscription officielle au patrimoine national
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de Kerauzern located?
Manoir de Kerauzern is located in Ploubezre, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Manoir de Kerauzern built?
Manoir de Kerauzern dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de Kerauzern open to visitors?
Manoir de Kerauzern is currently closed to visitors.