Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Rosanbo, located in Lanvellec in the Côtes d'Armor, dominates the valley of the Bô, a tributary of the Yar falling into the bay of Saint-Michel-en-Grève. Its Breton name, roz an Bo ("promontory on the Bô"), reflects its strategic location, occupied from the Middle Ages by a strong house, then a Gothic mansion in the 15th century. This site, controlling access to the bay, was transformed into a castle to counter northern invasions, before becoming a seigneurial residence.

The current structure is the result of multiple construction campaigns, from the medieval mansion to the 17th and 18th century expansions. In 1683, the castle was converted into a gentilhommière, with major additions such as a courtyard closed in the 19th century and roofs to the Mansart. The architect Louis Joubert took part in the 18th century, creating large windows and refined interiors, while Achilles Duchêne redesigned the park at the beginning of the 20th century, integrating terraces, charmilles and statues.

The castle has remained in the same family since the 14th century, marked by prestigious alliances. In 1688 Geneviève de Coskaër de Rosanbo married Louis II Le Peletier, president of the Paris parliament, obtaining permission from Louis XIV to raise the name Rosanbo. The French Revolution hit the family hard: in 1794 several members, including Aline de Rosanbo and her husband Jean-Baptiste de Chateaubriand (the older brother of François-René), were guillotined. Only their son Louis survives.

In the 20th century, Alain, Marquis de Rosanbo, opened the castle to the public in 1958 and created in 2007 a foundation recognized as a public utility in 2011. The estate, listed as historical monuments since 1930 (castle) and 1995 (park), includes French-style gardens, a 17th-century dovecote, and outbuildings such as stables and a farmhouse. A fire ravaged a wing in 1967, but the site retained some remarkable elements, including a 2.5-km charmille and a maze created in 2009.

The archives of Rosanbo, deposited in the National Archives, bear witness to its rich history, with funds linked to Vauban, Malesherbes, and Le Peletier. The castle also evokes illustrious figures such as Colbert, Tocqueville, or Pithou, through its apartments and library. Today, Francesca, Marquise de Rosanbo, perpetuates the family heritage by keeping the public open and preserving this major Breton heritage.

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