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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Kermerzit, located in Trémel in the Côtes-d'Armor, is a seigneurial mansion founded in the 15th century by the Jourdrain family. This monument, transformed into a farm over the centuries, preserves remarkable architectural elements such as a flamboyant Gothic gate with coat of arms, a dovecote of the early 16th century, and two houses of distinct periods (late 15th and early 16th). The chapel, now in ruins, was once accessible by an arcade gallery connecting the buildings. The site also includes a common mill and a pond mentioned in the family archives.

The seigneury of Kermerzit belonged to several generations of the Jourdrain family, including Robert Jourdrain (died 1418), Yves Jourdrain (cited 1503), and Guyon Jourdrain (1556–1607), a feudal provost of Guingamp. In the 17th century, the seigneury passed to the families of Kerleau, Tuomelin, and Bizien, who rented the farmhouse to local farmers in 1707. The castle was listed as historic monuments in 1927, recognizing its heritage value. The archives reveal details about seigneurial life, such as the obligation for farmers to provide straw for the lord's horses or shared use of the oven.

The architecture of the castle reflects its evolution: the primitive house (late 15th century) has a stair tower with lintel in arms, while the secondary house (early 16th) is distinguished by its flamboyant gothic skylights decorated with sculptures (hives, dogs, cabbages). A gallery destroyed between 1818 and 1848 linked the buildings to a chapel with a broken arch window. The north tower, which was partially abrased, may have been home to a chaplain. In the 19th century, the mansion was divided into two farms, as evidenced by leases of 1881 and 1891.

The sources also mention links with local figures, such as Saint Yves Hélory de Kermartin (a supposed parent via the Hélory), or anecdotes such as the removal of stones from the mansion to build the church of Plounerin in the 19th century. In 1925, the castle was sold to the Prigent and Louédec families, marking the end of its seigneurial history. Today, there remains a testimony of Breton manorial architecture, mixing defensive, residential and agricultural functions.

The site is protected for its following elements: Gothic gate, dovecote, house with carved windows, and remains of the chapel. The archives (feudal confessions, leases, cadastres) offer a precise insight into his occupation, from the military obligations of the lords (such as providing two archers in 1503) to the details of the contracts of metayage, revealing a micro-history of rural Brittany.

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