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Origin and history

The Manor House of Menguionnet, also spelled Minguionnet, Mengeonet or Menguyonet depending on the period, is a medieval building built between 1460 and 1480 in Gurin, Morbihan. This small seigneurial mansion, owned by the Kergoet family from 1300 until the 17th century, is distinguished by its preserved architecture: a body of rectangular houses, a wing in return for square, and a polygonal staircase tower, symbol of prestige. Although the outbuildings (moulin, chapel, dovecote) have disappeared, the calvary marking the entrance remains, testifying to its historical importance.

In 1993, the manor house, abandoned and threatened with dismantling, was saved by its acquisition by Philbert Hémery. The latter undertook its restoration in 1998 using exclusively traditional techniques, thus avoiding irreversible destruction. Archaeological excavations revealed artifacts from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries (glasses, pottery, stained glass, keys), enriching the knowledge of the daily life of the period. The site, registered with the Historic Monuments in 1999, opens to the public during Heritage Days, with a contribution to the costs of restoration requested.

Architecturally, the granite and schist house, once surrounded by commons and a wall, illustrates the style of Breton noble homes of the late Middle Ages. The anterior facade, adorned with a stair tower, and the dovecote with bolts (partly destroyed in the 20th century) underline its social status. Nearby, Minguionet covered lane adds a prehistoric dimension to the site, creating a dialogue between the eras. Today, the mansion remains a permanent restoration site, symbolizing the active preservation of the Breton rural heritage.

The chapel of the mansion, mentioned in the sources but today destroyed, as well as the agricultural parts added to the nineteenth century, recall the successive transformations of the estate. The Calvary, still standing, and the interior elements preserved (archives, wall cabinets, frame) offer an authentic glimpse of the seigneurial life in Brittany during the Renaissance. Registration in the Historic Monuments in 1999 helped to protect this rare complex, while making it accessible for educational and participatory visits.

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