Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Roche-Jagu is a fortified house built in the late Middle Ages, around the 15th century, on a rocky promontory overlooking the left bank of the Trieux. Its strategic position allowed monitoring of the river and its surroundings. The river side façade, with a round road, reflects its initial defensive role. The house, composed of a single building body, retains medieval elements such as a door topped by a niche and sled windows on the first floor. Inside, only the kitchen and a room with a fireplace from the early 15th century remain in original condition.

The castle has had several notable owners. Roland Péan, knight banneret and lord of the place, died after 1451. His son, Pierre Péan, died in 1488 at the Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier. The latter's daughter, Françoise Péan, married Guillaume d'Acigné in 1494, whose descendants, Jacques and Louis d'Acigné, inherited the estate. In 1773, the Marshal of Richelieu gave the castle to Mrs.Le Gonidec de Tressan. In 1958, the Viscount Gaëtan d'Ales left the site to the state, before it became the property of the Departmental Council of Côtes-d'Armor, which now manages it.

Ranked a historic monument in 1930 (for the castle) and in 1969 (for the gate, pavilions and the wall), the estate houses temporary exhibitions and contemporary gardens inspired by the Middle Ages, designed by landscape architect Bertrand Paulet. These gardens, labeled Remarkable Garden (2005) and EcoJardin (2017), span 64 hectares and include a medieval vegetable garden, a bouquet tree, and a collection of 350 varieties of camellias. The park, ravaged by a storm in 1987, was restored to preserve its biodiversity.

The castle, empty of furniture, hosts cultural events (concerts, shows) and nature workshops. Its park, with free access, offers a view of the estuary of the Trieux and houses contemporary works of art, such as the wrought iron sculptures by Marc Didou and Voyage Inner by Béatrice Coron, installed in the seigneurial garden. The site thus combines historical heritage, art and ecology.

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