Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé
MonumentHidden Treasure
Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé, located in Saint-Malo (Département 35), 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
- Saint-Malo, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.6402, -1.9718
- Mérimée Reference
- PA35000013
Joyau discret du granit malouin, cette malouinière de 1730 dévoile un plan intérieur d'une rare cohérence : hall-escalier, salle à manger aux lambris d'origine et grand salon, figés dans l'élégance de l'armateur corsaire.
History
Nestling in the Paramé district, just a stone's throw from the sea spray of the Emerald Coast, Malouinière de la Rivière belongs to the family of austere middle-class residences that the great shipowners of Saint-Malo had built from the early 18th century onwards to spend their summers away from the hustle and bustle of the port. Sober in facade, generous in plan, it alone embodies the art of living of a merchant caste that had made its fortune on the seas of the globe. What sets the Malouinière de la Rivière apart from the rest is the remarkable integrity of its original interior layout. Where many malouinières have undergone successive alterations, this one retains the layout intended by its first owner: a central hall housing the beautiful staircase, opening directly onto a dining room flanked on one side by the large reception room, and on the other by the kitchen with its trehory - a typically Breton cupboard for storing crockery. This functional tripartition, almost theoretical in its rigour, is a first-rate architectural testimony to the ways in which the Breton merchant nobility lived. The courtyard façade also holds some surprises in store for the attentive observer: the three bays punctuated by oval bull's-eyes, the shouldered chimneys and the lintels in the form of dripstones create a sober but masterful ornamental grammar, typical of the Malouin repertoire. The local granite, dense and bluish, gives the whole a luminous gravity that is found throughout the architecture of the peninsula. The dining room, which has retained its period panelling, is undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. The painted panelling, moulded door surrounds, trumeaux and smooth cornices form a coherent whole of rare freshness for an interior from the second quarter of the 18th century. The drawing room, meanwhile, was extensively remodelled in the 19th century and illustrates the romantic tastes of subsequent generations, offering a fascinating dialogue between two eras. This house is a must-see for anyone interested in Malouин's heritage. It provides an almost educational insight into the spatial and social logic behind the creation of an entire category of residential architecture unique to Saint-Malo and the surrounding region.
Architecture
La Malouinière de la Rivière is in the sober, robust style typical of 18th-century Malouin middle-class homes. Its courtyard façade, arranged in three regular bays, is punctuated by oval bull's-eyes interspersed between the levels, a discreet but elegant decorative motif that lightens the severity of the granite. The window lintels are carved in the shape of dripstones, ensuring effective drainage of rainwater while providing a classically ornamental feature. The thick, squat chimneys confirm the building's residential vocation and its adaptation to Brittany's coastal climate. The interior layout is the most remarkable feature of the residence. It is organised around a central hall housing the main staircase. From this hall, there is direct access to the central dining room, the showpiece around which revolve the large living room on one side and the kitchen with its treéhory on the other. The latter - a built-in cupboard for displaying fine crockery - is a typically Breton feature that reflects the syncretism between classical French architecture and local traditions. The dining room has retained its original panelling and woodwork from the second quarter of the 18th century, all of which is of a very high quality: frames, trumeaux and cornices make up a homogenous and precious decorative ensemble. The living room, completely redesigned in the 19th century, provides an instructive stylistic contrast with the rest of the house.
Related Figures
Armateurs malouins du début du XVIIIe siècle (commanditaires probables, enrichis par la course et le commerce maritime)Maîtres maçons malouins du second quart du XVIIIe siècle (artisans du granit ayant façonné le style régional)Propriétaires du XIXe siècle (auteurs du remaniement romantique du jardin et du salon)René Duguay-Trouin (figure tutélaire de l'armement malouin contemporaine de la construction)Robert Surcouf (corsaire malouin symbolisant la génération qui habita et fréquenta ces demeures)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé located?
Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé is located in Saint-Malo, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé built?
Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé open to visitors?
Malouinière de la Rivière, à Paramé is currently closed to visitors.
