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Origin and history

The manor house of the Chesnaye-Taniot is an iconic 18th-century building located in Matignon, in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany. This monument is distinguished by its classic style, characteristic of the malouinières, these residences of rich shipowners or nobles inspired by the Malouin architecture. The main house body, flanked by granite and shale outbuildings, has a symmetrical facade adorned with a cornice and rhythmized by five spans. Its rumped roof and monumental fireplaces highlight its sober elegance, while the back of the building incorporates two secondary wings, one of which has twined bays.

Built between 1683 and 1689 for Louis de Tréméreuc, adviser to the Parliament of Brittany, the mansion changed ownership in 1719 when it was acquired by François de la Moussaye. These two figures mark his initial history, linked to the Breton aristocracy of the time. The monument has been partially protected since 1964, with an inscription to the Historical Monuments covering its facades, roofs, the central staircase and the large room on the first floor, notable for its woodwork. These elements reflect the historic and architectural significance of the site.

The isolated location of the manor house, 700 meters north of the village of Matignon, reinforces its seigneurial character. Its plan and materials — granite and shale — are part of local traditions, while integrating classical influences from Saint-Malo. The 1964 protection aims to preserve these characteristics, as well as interior arrangements such as woodwork, testimonies of the discreet fascist of the Breton elites of the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, the mansion remains a remarkable example of the civil architecture of this period in Brittany.

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