Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier, located in Plumaugat (Département 22), 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
- Plumaugat, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.2402, -2.2677
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089775
Nestling at the end of a tree-lined seigniorial courtyard, Lozier manor house features corner pavilions and half-turrets set in a Breton stone setting typical of the 17th and 18th centuries.
History
In the heart of the Costarmorican countryside, in Plumaugat, the manor house of Lozier - alternately spelt L'Hozier or L'Osier according to ancient documents - stands out as one of the most complete examples of seigneurial architecture in Brittany in the 17th and 18th centuries. Far from the ostentation of the great court houses, it embodies the provincial nobility's attachment to their lands, who built solidly and tastefully, without ever sacrificing elegance for character. What immediately sets Lozier apart is the coherence of its ensemble. Approaching from the east along a planted path, visitors enter an enclosed, orderly space: the seigneurial courtyard gradually opens up, revealing the outbuildings to the north, the rectangular chapel to the south and, dominating the whole, the main building flanked by its two square pavilions and projecting half-turrets. The whole forms a rare architectural picture, preserved in its entirety. The visit is above all a sensory experience: the silence of the Breton countryside, the shade of the avenue trees, the slightly mossy grey stone of the facades and the discreet silhouette of the private chapel create an atmosphere of striking authenticity. This is a far cry from the well-trodden tourist trails; Lozier is aimed at lovers of confidential heritage, at those who want to understand how the small nobility of Breton dress really lived. The manor house has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1992, a recognition that underlines its architectural and historical interest in a region - the Côtes-d'Armor - that is particularly rich in manor houses of character. Nearby, the ruins of Plumaugat castle, a medieval fortress that stood just five hundred metres to the north-east of the village, are a reminder of the long history of this corner of Brittany.
Architecture
The layout of the Lozier manor house is typical of seigneurial architecture in Brittany in the 17th and 18th centuries: a rectangular main building flanked by two square pavilions at the corners of the main facade, while the rear facade and side facades are enlivened by two projecting half-turrets. This layout - central body, pavilions and turrets - represents a synthesis between the Breton medieval defensive tradition, still visible in the turrets of the staircase above, and the classical regularity introduced in the 17th century under the influence of the great French models. The buildings are set within an enclosed courtyard, the north of which is bordered by outbuildings directly adjoining the dwelling, a functional configuration typical of Breton noble farms where the estate's economy and seigneurial life coexist in deliberate proximity. To the south, the rectangular chapel oriented north-south completes the seigneurial enclosure; its 18th century date is consistent with the alterations made to the manor house during this period. The chapel is accessed from the east via a tree-lined driveway, a feature that marks the distinction between the secular and seigniorial areas, while also providing a carefully considered approach. The materials used are probably those of the region: granite or Breton schist depending on local availability, lime render on certain surfaces, and slate roofs from Anjou or Brittany. The sober ornamentation on the façades - few sculptures, discreet mouldings around the bays - is perfectly in keeping with the aesthetic of Brittany's rural nobility, which favoured solid construction over decorative splendour. Architectural quality can be seen in the right proportion of volumes and the mastery of overall composition, rather than in the profusion of decorative elements.
Related Figures
Famille Guéhéneuc de Boishue — propriétaires au XVIIIe siècle, figures de la noblesse rurale bretonne possédant également le château de PlumaugatFamille de Plumaugat — anciens seigneurs de la forteresse voisine, liés à l'histoire territoriale du secteurCommanditaire anonyme du XVIIe siècle — maître d'ouvrage de la construction du corps de logis principal, dont l'identité précise reste à établir
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier located?
Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier is located in Plumaugat, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier built?
Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier open to visitors?
Château de Lozier, dit aussi l'Hozier ou l'Osier is currently closed to visitors.