Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

L - Kerouat originated in the creation of the Regional Natural Park of Armorique (PNRA) in the late 1960s. In 1967, Jean-Pierre Gestin, curator at the PNRA, launched an open-air museum project to preserve the memory of the region's traditional lifestyles. The objective was to reflect the milestones of the human presence in the Arrea Mountains, by constituting representative sites on the territory. This project was part of a broader approach to culturally anchoring the nature park in its local environment.

In 1968, the General Council of Finistère acquired the Cornec House in Saint-Rivoal, built in 1702, which became the first entity of the ecomuseum. After restoration, it opened to the public in 1969, the year of the official creation of the PNRA. In 1971, the department acquired the village of the Kerouat mills in Commana, abandoned since 1965. This restored and valued site is open to visitors from 1975. The ecomuseum is structured around founding principles: a strong territorial anchor, the participation of the local population, a rigorous scientific method to preserve representative specimens, and an educational mission to transmit this heritage to future generations.

The ecomuseum of the Monts d'Arrée is distinguished by its collaborative approach and its close link with the inhabitants. In 1982, the Association of Friends of the Ecomuseum of the Monts d'Arrée was created to support its activities. The museum covers a variety of topics, ranging from ethnology (habitat, furniture, trades) to local history, agro-food science and technology. Its role is to bear witness to the changes in the territory, marked by the rural exodus, the end of the slate farming and the transformation of agricultural activities, while highlighting the current dynamism of the Monts d'Arrée, driven by local initiatives and cultural renewal.

The Kerouat site, with its mill and traditional built heritage, is a concrete example of this desire to preserve and enhance a threatened heritage. The ecomuseum is a key player in the transmission of collective memory, based on exhibitions, educational actions and constant dialogue with local populations. Its model, inspired by the principles of ecomuseums, makes it a living place, where the past and present dialogue to inform the future of the territory.

External links