Manoir du Val au Houx
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir du Val au Houx, located in Guégon (Département 56), 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
- Guégon, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9307, -2.5404
- Mérimée Reference
- PA56000005
Nestling on a Breton hillside, the Val au Houx manor house reveals three medieval dwellings with their original roof timbers intact, silent witnesses to a forgotten era of rural nobility in Morbihan.
History
Nestling in a green valley in the Morbihan countryside, the manor house of Val au Houx clings discreetly to its hillside as if time had decided to spare it. Far from the prestige castles and signposted itineraries, it belongs to that rare category of Breton seigneurial residences that have preserved most of their medieval substance, without abusive restoration or untimely reconstruction. It is precisely this raw authenticity that sets it apart. The complex comprises three main buildings aligned to the south of an enclosed courtyard, framed by outbuildings and walls that form a quasi-domestic enclosure. Two of these buildings date from the 15th century and still have their original roofing frameworks in place - an exceptional feature for structures of this age in rural Brittany. The third, probably built at the end of the 16th century, can be identified by the careful moulding of its bays, reflecting the late-Renaissance sensibility that was sweeping through the Armorican countryside at the time. Visiting the house is like immersing yourself in the Breton rural seigniory at its most sober and sincere. Here, there are no grand staircases or formal gardens: the strength of the place lies in its natural layout, following the relief of a sloping hillside that offers unexpected views over the southern valley. The enclosed courtyard, open to the north, creates an atmosphere of almost monastic contemplation. The manor's charm is fully enhanced by its green setting. The surrounding wooded slopes, the dry-stone walls and the light filtering in from inland Brittany give the manor house a patina that no restoration could have invented. Photographers and lovers of vernacular heritage will find plenty to enjoy here, especially in the early hours of the morning when the mist lingers in the valley.
Architecture
The Val au Houx manor house is a perfect example of the medieval Breton manor house with an enclosed courtyard, an architectural type common in inland Brittany but rarely preserved with such integrity. Three main buildings line up along the south side of the courtyard, with their main elevation - to the north - overlooking the protected domestic area. This inverted layout compared with manor houses with formal entrances reflects the defensive and climatic logic typical of Breton rural buildings: the entrance faces north and the enclosed courtyard forms a buffer space between the outside world and the dwellings. The two 15th-century medieval buildings are distinguished by their sober massing and their intact timber frames, which are one of the highlights of the site. These roof timbers, probably of the rafter and truss or truss and purlin type as was customary in Brittany at the time, bear witness to the quality of the carpenter's skills. The walls, as is common in the Morbihan region, are probably made of local granite, ashlar or dressed rubble stone, depending on the area, with perhaps a few additions of schist in less exposed areas. The third part of the dwelling, attributed to the late 16th century, can be identified by its more elaborate moulding: the bays have profiled frames characteristic of the late Breton Renaissance, with chamfers, baguettes or grooves in accordance with the formulas used by Armorican stonemasons of the period. Although it is more ornate, the materials and massing of this building blend harmoniously with the rest of the complex. The manor house's hillside layout, which follows the natural topography of the site, gives it an organic silhouette that reinforces its picturesque character.
Related Figures
Famille du Houlle — premiers seigneurs du domaine au XVe siècle, dont le patronyme a donné son nom originel au manoirCommanditaire anonyme du XVIe siècle — maître des lieux à la fin du XVIe siècle, responsable de l'extension Renaissance du manoirCharpentiers bretons du XVe siècle — artisans dont les œuvres, toujours en place, constituent le témoignage le plus précieux du siteTailleurs de pierre morbihannais de la Renaissance — auteurs des moulurations des baies du troisième corps de logis
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir du Val au Houx located?
Manoir du Val au Houx is located in Guégon, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Manoir du Val au Houx built?
Manoir du Val au Houx dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir du Val au Houx open to visitors?
Manoir du Val au Houx is currently closed to visitors.