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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Manor House of the Ville-Roger, located in Fréhel in the Côtes-d'Armor, is an architectural example of a malouinière, typical of the houses built around Saint-Malo in the 18th century. The main house body, facing south, was erected in 1735 by Toussaint-Claude des Cognetz, while the chapel dedicated to Saint-Yves, built around 1600, bears witness to an earlier occupation. The site retains remains of a vegetable garden and a pond, although the former dovecote has disappeared. The interior decor, mostly from the 19th century, nevertheless preserves the large western living room and the original staircase.

The mansion belonged to noble Breton families, moving from the Marre to the Cognets (Vicomtes de Plehérel) from the 16th century, before being transmitted by marriage to the Moussaye family in 1772. The Marquis de la Moussaye, pair of France from 1835 to 1848, made it his residence. The outbuildings, redesigned in the 19th and 20th centuries, complete a U-shaped ensemble, partially protected since 2007 (main house bodies only).

The history of the mansion reflects the social and architectural evolutions of Brittany, from its role as a seigneurial residence to its inscription in the heritage. Successive developments, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, preserved part of its original character, while adapting the premises to the needs of later periods. The chapel, although restored, and the remains of the gardens recall the religious and agricultural importance of the estate throughout the centuries.

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