Manoir de Locmaria
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir de Locmaria, located in Carnoët (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
- Carnoët, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3322, -3.5112
- Mérimée Reference
- PA22000060
Nestling in the heart of the Corong gorges, the Locmaria manor house unfurls its Breton elegance between dark granite and wild nature - a jewel to be listed as a Historic Monument in 2019.
History
At the end of a wooded valley through which the Corong flows, on the edge of the Côtes-d'Armor department, the Locmaria manor house stands out as one of the most intimate examples of Breton seigneurial heritage. Away from the signposted tourist routes, it reveals to those who know how to look for it a sober and powerful architecture, all of bluish granite, rooted in a landscape of moors and deep forests characteristic of the Carnoët region. What sets Locmaria apart from the many rural manor houses of inland Brittany is the remarkable coherence of its built ensemble: the main building, outbuildings, fences and walled garden still form an almost intact estate, untouched by the major restructuring work of the 19th century that disfigured so many comparable residences. The local stone, cut with care, interacts with the spontaneous vegetation that has grown up around it, creating an atmosphere of suspended time that is typical of houses that have stood the test of time without trying to be part of it. To visit Locmaria Manor is to be prepared to get a little lost: the sunken paths leading from the village of Carnoët pass through ancient beech forests and cascading streams, a natural preamble that prepares the mind for the encounter with ancient stone. Lovers of vernacular architecture will find here a lesson in the mastery of economy of means: no superfluous ornamentation, but a balanced composition where each opening, each window or door moulding bears witness to precise craftsmanship. The natural setting is inseparable from the monument. The nearby gorges of the Corong, a listed natural site, form a wild setting that amplifies the feeling of seigneurial isolation sought by the medieval builders. Photographers and watercolourists come here at dawn or in the late afternoon to capture the play of golden light on the mossy granite façade, as the surrounding foliage filters the slanting rays of the Armorican sun.
Architecture
The Locmaria manor house belongs to the great family of Breton manor houses of the middle nobility, whose sober, functional architecture contrasts with the splendour of the seigniorial castles, while at the same time asserting a social status that is clearly distinct from that of a simple farmhouse. The main building, with one or two storeys depending on the successive alterations, has a facade of central Brittany granite - a bluish rock with silvery reflections characteristic of the Armorican massif - laid in squared rubble in regular courses, a technical sign of a quality-conscious building site. The openings are the most telling elements in terms of chronology: windows with stone cross-pieces or mullions, with prismatic or cavet mouldings, indicate building campaigns between the 15th and 17th centuries, while the entrance door, framed by a carefully-cut granite architrave, bears witness to a local mastery of architectural sculpture. The steeply pitched roof, as befits the rainy climate of inland Brittany, is covered in local slate, the king material of Armorican architecture. In addition to the dwelling, the estate includes outbuildings - outbuildings, possibly a barn or stable - arranged to form a semi-enclosed courtyard sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. The remains of a fence or boundary wall mark the boundaries of the manor. Inside, although later alterations may have changed the layout of the rooms, we can assume that there is a large lower hall with a monumental granite fireplace, barrel-vaulted cellars and perhaps a stone spiral staircase leading to the upper floors - recurring features of this type of residence in Brittany.
Related Figures
Famille de hobereaux locaux médiévaux, premiers bâtisseurs présumés du manoir aux XIVe-XVe sièclesSeigneurs du pays de Carnoët, suzerains sous l'Ancien RégimePropriétaires révolutionnaires ou bourgeois du XIXe siècle ayant préservé l'intégrité du domaineConservateurs régionaux des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription (2019)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de Locmaria located?
Manoir de Locmaria is located in Carnoët, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Manoir de Locmaria built?
Manoir de Locmaria dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de Locmaria open to visitors?
Manoir de Locmaria is currently closed to visitors.