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Origin and history

The Manor House of Qui-Qu'en-Grogne, also known as the Boisboissel Manor House or Hotel de Maillé, is an emblematic building of Saint-Brieuc, in the Côtes-d'Armor. Built in the 16th century, it bears the traces of several noble Breton families, including the Boisboissel, the Bréhant de l'Isle and the Maillé. His unusual name, Qui-Qu'en-Grogne, would come from a replica of Arthur de Bretagne, a connétable of Richemont, during a visit in 1406 to suppress tax revolts. The mansion, originally linked to the episcopal seigneury, was the scene of conflicts like that between Pierre de Boisboissel and Henry de Pledran in 1353, leading to the partial fire of the nearby fortress.

The monument changed hands several times through alliances or sales, passing from Boisboissel to the Rouvre (XIVth century), then to the Bréhant de l'Isle (XVIth century) before being acquired by the Maillés in the 18th century. In 1795, confiscated during the Revolution, it was purchased by Jean-François-Pierre Poulain de Corbion, former mayor of Saint-Brieuc and republican figure, executed by the Chouans in 1799. In the 19th century, it became Episcopal Palace (1825-1905) before sheltering the Departmental Directorate of Equipment. Its architecture combines a 15th century tower, stone staircases, and interior decorations enriched by bishops, such as the tapestries of the Gobelins.

The origin of the successive names of the mansion reflects its turbulent history. Boisboissel recalls the founding family, while Maillé, Beauvoir or du Parc evoke its subsequent owners. The Holy Spirit Tower, classified in 1926, and the protected facades testify to its heritage importance. The park, once open to the public, was divided between the bishopric and the prefecture after the Revolution. Today, the mansion embodies both the Breton aristocratic heritage and the political transformations of France, from the Ancien Régime to the Third Republic.

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