Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château de Craffault is located in the commune of Pledran, in the department of Côtes-d'Armor, in Brittany. Its main house body has a composite façade: the right part dates back to the 16th century, while the left is from the 17th century. A staircase pavilion, probably from the 15th century, completes this historic complex. These ancient elements contrast with a gallery, pavilion and north wing added in 1902, designed by the Rennes architect Jean-Baptiste Martenot to integrate harmoniously with the existing structure.

Between 1899 and 1902, the castle underwent major restorations sponsored by J. de Largentaye, supervised by Martenot and executed by the entrepreneur Louis Sébilleau. This includes the partial demolition of the old building, the resumption of masonries and drills, as well as a complete overhaul of interior distribution and decorations. Architectural elements, such as those from Costardais Castle in Médréac, are reused to enrich the site. The castle has been partially listed as a historical monument since 9 May 1990, protecting, in particular, the house, moats and bases of the entrance chestnut.

The architecture of the castle thus illustrates a superposition of styles, from the presumed medieval origins (15th century) to neoclassical additions of the early 20th century. Martenot's restorations were designed to modernize the building while preserving its historical character, as evidenced by the old postcards kept in the departmental archives and in the Brest library. These visual documents highlight the evolution of the site, especially after the major transformations carried out on behalf of the Largentaye family.

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