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Origin and history

The castle of Blossac, located in Goven in Ille-et-Vilaine, finds its origins on lands belonging to the 12th century Lord Belozac, whose name, distorted by usage, marked the place. Blossac's suffix -ac evokes a Gallo-Roman descent, typical of Breton toponymy. The estate, at the confluence of the Meu and Vilaine, forms an island thanks to a canal linking these streams, a strategic and picturesque site often prone to flooding, as evidenced by the 20th century accounts describing the castle "encircled by the waters" during major floods.

The present castle was erected by Louis de La Bourdonnaye, seigneur of Coëtion and adviser to the Parliament of Brittany, after his acquisition of the land in 1671. It replaced a 15th century mansion, of which a turret remains. In the 18th century, important works expanded the estate: the building of the chapel (blessed in 1769) and an adjoining wing, as well as the central gate of the eastern facade, dated 1760. The architecture, typical of the period, combines a central building with four spans, two prominent pavilions and lateral wings delimiting a court of honor. A special feature is its two hollow towers and its library panels, which come from the Julien Hotel in Paris.

Property of the family La Bourdonnaye until the 19th century, the castle then passed to their descendants, the Gosset de La Rousserie, by female alliance. During World War II, he was occupied successively by German, American and French troops. Ranked a historic monument in 1957 for its facades and roofs, its estate (park, commons, aisles) was protected in 2019. In January 2025, a flood destroyed some of its interiors, recalling its vulnerability to the whims of nearby rivers.

The architectural ensemble, photographed between 1900 and 1920 by Gustave William Lemaire, illustrates the evolution of a seigneurial residence in a place full of history, mixing medieval heritage (the 15th century turret), classicism of the 17th-15th centuries, and traces of modern conflicts. Its park and river location make it an emblematic site of Breton heritage, still inhabited by the heirs of its first owners.

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