Manoir de Toulgoat
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir de Toulgoat, located in Quimper (Département 29), 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
- Quimper, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.0083, -4.1500
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090336
Nestling on the outskirts of Quimper, the Toulgoat manor house is an elegant Breton residence spanning three centuries, with its Renaissance main building, seigniorial chapel and Grand Siècle orangery.
History
On the outskirts of Quimper, in Finistère where grey stone meets golden lichen, the Toulgoat manor house is one of the most complete examples of Breton manorial architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries. Far from the sumptuous mansions of the Loire, it embodies a more modest but equally sincere aristocratic ideal: that of a provincial nobility attached to its land, shaping its home over generations and fortunes.
Architecture
The Toulgoat manor house is a perfect illustration of the development of Breton manor house architecture over three centuries. The main building, constructed at the end of the 16th century, is typical of the Breton provincial Renaissance: simple volumes, regular openings and a slate roof, typical of Finistère. The local ashlar, granite or kersanton depending on the part, gives the whole building the harsh, long-lasting colour that characterises Breton buildings. The western extension of 1677 introduced a slightly different vocabulary, reflecting the classical influences that were penetrating the province at the time. The general raising of the walls to create a second storey visually unifies the composition while giving it a new verticality. The chapel, set back or slightly detached from the main building according to local custom, would have had an east-facing chevet and a bell tower or small campanile, recurring features in private oratories in Lower Brittany. The eighteenth-century orangery, an integral part of the estate, is distinguished by its large arched or pedimented windows designed to let the light flood in on the frost-sensitive trees. The estate as a whole, laid out around a courtyard of honour probably enclosed by walls and gates, forms a coherent whole where each addition, while betraying its era, respects the overall spirit of the place. The slate roof, mentioned as early as 1630, remains the most immediately Breton feature of the entire composition.
Related Figures
Famille noble fondatrice du manoir (fin XVIe siècle, identité non établie avec certitude)Propriétaire commanditaire de l'agrandissement de 1677Maître maçon ou appareilleur local ayant dirigé les travaux du XVIIe sièclePropriétaire du XVIIIe siècle ayant fait édifier l'orangeriePropriétaire du XIXe siècle ayant entrepris les travaux de modernisation
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de Toulgoat located?
Manoir de Toulgoat is located in Quimper, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Manoir de Toulgoat built?
Manoir de Toulgoat dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de Toulgoat open to visitors?
Manoir de Toulgoat is currently closed to visitors.
