Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 2 Place du Marché in Port-Louis is a mansion built in 1768 by Jean de Kerdrain, a professional shipowner. The building is characterized by a structure on the ground floor and a floor, topped by a mansard roof pierced with low arched windows. The bays, also in low arches, are equipped with double windows with old small tiles, while the corners of the facade are reinforced by granite chains. Inside, the panelling, fastening cabinets and stair ramp date back to the initial construction, showing the care taken to this bourgeois hotel.

The courtyard is home to a well made of assembled granite, supplemented by a margin, typical of the affluent houses of the era. Although the period of construction mentioned in some sources evokes the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, the decree of inscription to the Historical Monuments of 19 November 1946 specifies that facades and roofs (cadastre AE 208) are protected for their heritage value. This shift raises an ambiguity about exact dating, but the 1768 history, confirmed by the interior architectural elements, remains the main reference.

The hotel illustrates the prestige of Breton shipowners in the 18th century, a prosperous social class thanks to maritime commerce. Port-Louis, the strategic port of Morbihan, then concentrated an economic elite whose residences, like that of Jean de Kerdrain, blended functionality and elegance. The noble materials (granite, carved wood) and the decorative details reflect this opulence, while being part of the local architectural style, marked by the influence of the Atlantic ports.

External links