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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Manorval mansion, located in the hamlet of Mané-er-Val in Guern (Morbihan), dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Its architecture combines medieval and Renaissance elements, as evidenced by its entrance door dated 1557, surrounded by pilasters and surmounted by a pediment. A glider of the west wing, as well as unreadable coat of arms on the large house, suggest further additions. The building was originally lined with a fortified enclosure, which remains a tower and a ruined gate of 1620, destroyed in 1966.

The estate belonged to noble families, including the Duchess of Elbeuf, Kerangal, Goublaye-Nantois, Mahé (early 20th century) and Bonniec (after 1970). Used as a farm in the 19th century, it became a home again in the 1970s. A chapel dedicated to St Catherine and St Jerome, now in ruins, stood north of the mansion. The commons, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, complete the architectural ensemble.

The entrance gate, the most remarkable element, has been listed as a historic monument since March 27, 1950. The site is historically the duchy of Rohan, as attested by the 17th century confession (1638, 1682). The small west house, decorated with a skylight bearing the date 1557 and the initials JB, as well as the erased coat of arms of the great house, underline its seigneurial past.

Built for Sieur François de Baud, this house illustrates the evolution of the Breton manors, from fortress to agricultural residence, then to private residence. Its present state reflects these transformations, between medieval remains and traces of more recent occupations.

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