Kergroadès Castle (Kergroadez in Breton) is a 17th century castle located in the town of Brélès, in the Finistère department, in Brittany.
It has been classified as a historical monument since May 1995.
Near Brest, located between Lanrivoaré and Brélès, the castle of Kergroadès, was built from 1602 to 1613, for François III de Kergroadez, lord of the place, of Bois, of Kerver, of Kerangomar, knight of Saint-Michel, from a very old family whose coat of arms was "fascinated with six pieces of silver and sand", and the motto "in good hope". His land of Kergroadez had just been erected into a marquisate by Henry IV, whom he had supported during the Wars of the League.
The Kergroadez family occupied it until 1760, when the castle fell into a distaff, various families succeeding one another, including the Kerouartz family. Its last owner under the Ancien Régime is the Marquis de Roquelaure, who was guillotined.
After the Revolution, it served as a military hospital for the military camp of Saint-Renanet gradually fell into ruin. It was bought and restored by various private owners, in particular the Chevillotte family from 1913 (the Brest owner Julien Chevillotte married in 1913 Valentine Mével, the heiress of the castle, then their son Emmanuel operated the farm until 1991). In 2000, Kergroadès was bought by the Jaclin family, who have since worked to restore it and open it to the public.
Benjamin Girard thus describes the state of Kergroadès castle in 1889:
“Kergroadès castle, whose imposing ruins still exist, was built in the 17th century, on the site of a much older castle. During the Revolution, this beautiful house was transformed into a hospital for the troops of the canton of Saint-Renan; it is now completely abandoned, and a few years were enough to turn this rich castle into a vast ruin. "
Kergroadès is a large square building, flanked by loophole towers at four angles. One of them is surmounted by a dome, the other is crowned by a platform covered with a machicolation parapet.
The house is made up of three U-shaped wings surrounding a courtyard closed by a gallery pierced by the portal of honor.
At the entrance, there is a protective wall surmounted by a terrace supported by arcades, in which open two doors, a cavalier and a pedestrian, both framed by Ionic pilasters. We read on the ledge a verse from Ecclesiastes:
"Si non in timore di tenveriste instanter cito subvertatur domus tua"
(If you do not constantly keep yourself in the fear of the Lord, your house will be destroyed).
From the main courtyard, you can see the manor, an imposing residence, inspired by the castle of Kerjean in Saint-Vougay. From the Breton Renaissance, the castle retains a defensive character. The courtyard is closed by a defense parapet. The facade is pierced with many large windows with stone crosses and surmounted by richly carved mansard windows.
Access is via two aisles.
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