Manoir du Lézard
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir du Lézard, located in Bourbriac (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
- Bourbriac, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.4813, -3.1511
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089036
Nestling in the Trégor countryside, Manoir du Lézard's 17th-century granite facades bear discreet but striking witness to Breton seigneurial architecture at its height.
History
In the heart of the Bourbriac region, in this inland Trégor where the moors rub shoulders with the deep bocage of the Côtes-d'Armor, the Manoir du Lézard stands out as one of those silent jewels that Brittany willingly hides from those who don't know how to look. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1926, it embodies with rare authenticity the noble way of life in the province of Armor during the Grand Siècle. What sets Le Lézard apart from the countless gentleman's cottages in Brittany is the characteristic combination of sobriety and refinement that the 17th-century master builders so skilfully managed. The local granite, cut with care, gives the walls a slightly golden grey hue that seems to glow softly in the late afternoon sun. The mullioned windows, sculpted dormer windows and meticulous framing of the bays bear witness to local craftsmen at the peak of their art. A visit to the manor house invites you to take a timeless stroll. The farm outbuildings, dry stone fences and remains of the walled garden form a coherent whole around the main dwelling, recreating the atmosphere of an estate that is still very much alive. The interior, with its oak panelling and monumental fireplaces, offers a striking picture of Breton seigneurial domesticity. The natural setting enhances the charm of the place. Bourbriac, a small town on the borders of the Goëlo and Trégor regions, is surrounded by deep valleys and dense forests where Arthurian legends mingle with the history of the great local families. Manoir du Lézard fits into this landscape like a glove, anchored in a land it has never really left.
Architecture
The Manoir du Lézard is a typical example of 17th-century Breton manor house architecture, as found in the inland regions of the Côtes-d'Armor département. The main dwelling, built of grey granite from local quarries, has an L- or U-shaped floor plan - a common feature of manor houses in the Trégor region, allowing the living areas to be arranged around a semi-enclosed courtyard sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. The thick walls (sixty to seventy centimetres) provide appreciable thermal inertia in this temperate oceanic climate. The main facade features stone mullioned windows, with mullions and transoms cut from granite that is finer than the facing. The moulded window surrounds, with their cavet or chamfered profiles, bear witness to the particular care taken with the ornamentation without becoming ostentatious. Dormers with triangular or arched pediments piercing the roof - covered in flat tiles or Angers slate, a prestigious material in inland Brittany - complete this sober and elegant decorative grammar. One or more external chimneys, with their carved stumps jutting out above the ridge caps, mark out the interior hierarchy of rooms. The estate as a whole includes agricultural outbuildings - stables, barns and a bread oven - laid out around the main courtyard in the classic Breton rural estate style, where the seigniorial dwelling interacts with its functional annexes without ostentatiously dominating them. Traces of dry stone fencing and the possible remains of a dovecote or walled kitchen garden complete this picture of a self-sufficient noble farm, typical of the seigneurial economy of the Grand Siècle in Armorique.
Related Figures
Famille seigneuriale fondatrice du XVIIe siècle (identité précise non documentée), bâtisseurs du logis actuelMaître maçon local du Trégor, artisan de la taille de granite ayant réalisé les encadrements sculptésPropriétaires révolutionnaires ayant maintenu ou acquis le domaine lors des ventes nationales (vers 1790-1800)Inspecteur des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1925-1926Familles bourgeoises du XIXe siècle ayant assuré la transmission et la conservation du manoir
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir du Lézard located?
Manoir du Lézard is located in Bourbriac, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Manoir du Lézard built?
Manoir du Lézard dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir du Lézard open to visitors?
Manoir du Lézard is currently closed to visitors.
