Malouinière de la Ville Azé
MonumentHidden Treasure
Malouinière de la Ville Azé, located in Saint-Coulomb (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-Coulomb, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.6731, -1.9341
- Mérimée Reference
- PA35000016
Dating from 1729, this malouinière in Saint-Coulomb epitomises the discreet elegance of the homes of shipowners from Saint-Coulomb: three sober bays, authentic low wings and an intact living room décor, a veritable capsule of 18th-century Brittany.
History
Nestling inland on the Emerald Coast, just a stone's throw from Saint-Malo, the malouinière de la Ville Azé is one of those modest jewels that you discover with the satisfaction of a connoisseur. Built in 1729, it belongs to that very special family of Malouin rural architecture that the great shipowners and privateers of the 18th century had built as country residences, sheltered from the sea spray and cannonades, but never far from the sea that made their fortune. What sets Ville Azé apart from its Malouin sisters is precisely its restraint. Three bays, two low wings framing the main building - one housing the latrines, the other a service room - a well, a former courtyard converted into a garden on the north side and a formal garden on the south side: everything here is measured, proportionate and architecturally coherent in a way that the centuries have not altered. Few alterations have been made to upset the original balance, giving the building an authenticity that is rare in Brittany's heritage landscape. The interior holds the most precious surprise: the drawing room and its period décor, representative of the care taken by Malouin homeowners with their interiors, even in modest-sized residences. The wood panelling, mouldings and ornamental details speak directly to the taste of the early 18th century, which was a blend of provincial sobriety and bourgeois ambition. For visitors with a passion for maritime history and domestic architecture, the Ville Azé offers a different experience from the spectacular châteaux: that of an inhabited residence, on a human scale, where you can still feel the presence of those who lived between two campaigns of racing or long-distance trading. The natural setting, with its well-designed gardens and relaxed atmosphere, invites you to take a contemplative stroll.
Architecture
The Ville Azé malouinière is typical of buildings of this type: a sober, well-balanced main building with three bays, flanked by two symmetrical lower wings that frame the main facade without ostentation. One of these wings housed the latrines, the other a service room - a functional layout typical of these homes, which had to meet the practical needs of a middle-class family while retaining a certain formal dignity. The materials used are traditional Breton: local granite for the walls, slate for the roofs, giving the whole a solid grey hue that is found throughout the rural architecture of the Malouin region. The layout of the site is just as revealing: to the north, a former farmyard transformed into a domestic garden bears witness to the changing uses of the property, while to the south stretches the pleasure garden, complete with a well that once marked the property's self-sufficiency. The whole is a coherent rural microcosm, in which the main residence harmoniously interacts with its outbuildings without ever falling into grandiloquence. The most precious feature is the interior: the living room, whose period décor has remained largely intact, is an authentic example of the interior ornamentation of the small Malouinières of the early 18th century. Painted or natural woodwork, panelling, fireplace surrounds and ceiling mouldings all reflect the taste of an enlightened bourgeoisie, concerned with comfort and elegance without excessive pomp.
Related Figures
Armateurs malouins du premier XVIIIe siècle (commanditaires probables de la construction en 1729)René Duguay-Trouin (figure tutélaire de l'armature corsaire malouine, contemporain de la construction)Robert Surcouf (corsaire malouin de la génération suivante, figure emblématique du contexte maritime régional)Propriétaires successifs anonymes ayant préservé l'intégrité du bâtiment jusqu'au XXIe siècle
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Malouinière de la Ville Azé located?
Malouinière de la Ville Azé is located in Saint-Coulomb, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Malouinière de la Ville Azé built?
Malouinière de la Ville Azé dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Malouinière de la Ville Azé open to visitors?
Malouinière de la Ville Azé is currently closed to visitors.
