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Origin and history

The Château du Bois de la Roche, located in Neant-sur-Yvel in Morbihan, is a medieval fortress built at the end of the 15th century by Philippe de Montauban. It replaces an old castle located at the bottom of the valley, whose ruins still existed in 1681. This new building, imposing with nine slotted towers and deep moats, dominates the Yvel from a hill. The seigneury of Bois de la Roche extended its influence over several parishes, with high-justice rights, mills, estates and lands.

In 1592, the castle was taken by the Leaguers and remained under their control until 1598, subjected to looting and destruction of its archives. In the 17th century, the north wing was redesigned, and in 1793, part of the castle was burned in a fight between Chouans and Republicans. The latter partially dismantled him for fear that he would serve as a refuge for the Chouans. The chapel, dedicated to Saint Anne, became parish church in 1846.

The castle, from medieval architecture to "V" plan, lost this configuration after the destruction of the southeast wing. Today there is only one tower of the original chestnut, part of the north tower, and a courting wall. The facades and roofs of the house, communes and entrance pavilions, as well as the gate and enclosures of the former fortress, have been listed as historical monuments since 2001. The estate covers 110 hectares.

The seigneury of Bois de la Roche, erected in 1517 by Anne de Bretagne in favour of Philippe de Montauban, then in county in 1607 under Henri IV, belonged to influential families such as the Montauban, Volvire, and Magon de La Balue. Anne de Volvire, nicknamed "Toussaint" and known as the Saint of None, was born there in 1653 and died there in 1694. The castle also welcomed notable guests such as Renaud de Montauban and his son Guillaume.

In 2015, a restoration of the castle was undertaken under the direction of Nicolas Marceau. The site, marked by historical episodes such as the War of Succession of Brittany and revolutionary conflicts, remains a major architectural testimony of the evolution of noble habitat in Brittany from the 15th to the 19th century.

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