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Origin and history

The Château du Tiercent, located in the east of the church of Saint Martin in the commune of the same name, is a castral complex composed of a medieval dungeon, ruins, a small house called the Chambre des Coëtlogon, a large house, old stables and a farmhouse. The dungeon, the heart of the park, preserves defensive elements such as mâchicoulis and a wall overhanging, while the large house, facing south, has a sober facade made of cut stone, rhythmic by six bays of windows on three levels, crowned with a granite cornice. The slate roof, equipped with window windows in the middle of the wall, and the pediment decorated with a sundial and fire pots reflect a neat architecture, mixing Renaissance and classic elements.

The history of the site dates back to at least the 12th century, with a seigneury attested from 1155, owned by the eponymous family of the Tiercent until the beginning of the 17th century. In the 15th century, the primitive castle was rebuilt (the Old Halls), of which today the dungeon remains. In the 16th century, a house called the Chambre des Coëtlogon was erected, partially preserved despite subsequent modifications. In 1602, Gilles de Ruellan, close to Richelieu and Henri IV, acquired the seigneury and had the present large house built, after the erection of the Tiercent in barony in 1608. This character, called a colossal fortune by Richelieu, also builds other castles in Pays de Fougères. The stables, the last built element, date from the late 19th or early 20th century.

The castle has been listed for historical monuments since 15 December 1926 for its ensemble castral (donjon, lodges, stables and farmhouse). The vestiges of the Old Halls and dungeon, such as an ancient arched door or glass windows that disappeared in the 19th century, testify to architectural changes. The farmhouse, typical of the seventeenth century with its housing, kitchen and barn, as well as the stables in return for square, illustrate the evolution of the agricultural and residential functions of the estate. Some re-use stones, such as seigneurial coats of arms or carved heads, recall the medieval history of the site, although the hypothesis of an initial Roman castel remains uncertain.

Together, surrounded by a forest and overlooking the valley of la Minette, occupies a strategic position on a height, near the road leading to Saint-Brice-en-Cogles. This location, combined with archaeological remains and written sources, suggests an ancient occupation, although the evidence of a primitive castle before the 12th century is lacking. The castle, now partially open to the visit, preserves interior elements from the 17th and 19th centuries, despite recent modifications. Its English-style park and outbuildings (passione du cocher, soue à piges) complement this heritage representative of Breton architectural evolution, from feudal times to modern times.

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