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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Val d'Arguenon, located in Saint-Cast-le-Guildo in the Côtes-d'Armor, is mentioned since the 15th century. It was rebuilt in 1571 by Amaury Gouyon, Baron de la Moussaye, then adopting a square plan with a house body flanked by two turrets and a western wing leading to a chapel. This building, completed around 1582, was the only one to survive the 1758 fire caused by the withdrawal of British troops. The chapel, restored at the beginning of the 20th century, preserves Renaissance architectural elements such as carved skylights and a pavilion roof.

In the 18th century, the castle became the property of Pierre de Châteaubriand, who undertook a reconstruction campaign around 1780. Confiscated during the Revolution, it was degraded by barracks before being bought in 1801 by François-Julien-Michel de la Morvonnais. Its descendant, Hippolyte de la Morvonnenais, restored it in the 19th century. The dovecote, dating from the 17th century, and the concierge, built in the 19th and 20th centuries, complete the whole. The manor house, listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage, illustrates the architectural transformations and historical vicissitudes of a Breton seigneury.

The building is distinguished by its square plan, with a main house body and a wing integrating the chapel. The materials used — granite and sandstone — and the details such as the headset or the architectural windows reflect the styles of the 16th and 18th centuries. The presence of a stable, a dovecote and a concierge bears witness to its role as a seigneurial estate. The castle also welcomed Protestant figures, such as Henri de Condé in 1585, during his exile to Jersey, stressing its importance in the political networks of the time.

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