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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Grand Maison de Quintin is a typical 18th-century building built in granite and situated in the Martray square in the town of Quintin, Brittany. Its architecture is distinguished by a two-door-framed central fog, bays on the ground floor, and pediment windows on the third floor, the centre of which dates from 1728. These elements illustrate the know-how of local artisans and the stylistic influences of the time, mixing functionality and neat ornaments.

In 1691, the town of Quintin was erected as a duchy, a landmark event for the region that coincided with a period of architectural development. The Grand House, partially listed as historical monuments in 1951 (facade and roof), bears witness to this prosperity. Its characteristics, such as the small woods of the openings of the first floor or the circular shapes connecting the feet-rights, reflect the constructive techniques and aesthetic tastes of the eighteenth century in Brittany.

The protection of this monument by order of 28 May 1951 underlines its heritage importance. Today owned by the commune, the Grand House embodies both the urban history of Quintin and the evolution of the bourgeois Breton habitat. Its central location on a public square suggests a social or commercial role in local life, although the sources do not specify its original use.

The materials used, including granite, are emblematic of the Côtes-d-Armor region, where this stone was extensively exploited. The precise dating of 1728 on the central skylight provides a rare time frame for civilian houses of this period, often difficult to date accurately. This detail, combined with the inscription of historical monuments, makes it a reference building for the study of Breton domestic architecture.

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