CastleGuichen (35)

A 17th-century chateau to be restored, listed as a historical monument with outhouses and almost two hectares of grounds, nestled in Brittany’s Ille-et-Vilaine department. From a public road on the property’s north side, a gate framed between two stone pillars leads onto a drive in line with the middle of the chateau. This driveway takes you up to the edifice’s main section, flanked with its two wings. One of these wings is linked to a house that stands at a right angle to the chateau. On the south side, there is a terrace and, lower down, a garden that covers almost a hectare. There are 1,200 blueberry bushes growing in this garden. An old carriage storehouse also stands on the estate. The chateau was built in the 17th century on the site where a manor, mentioned as early as at the start of the 15th century, once stood. Up to the 19th century, the chateau was redesigned by its successive owners. The grand edifice stands in a commanding position where it looks down over a valley on its south side. Its schist stone facade contrasts with the white ashlar of its window and door surrounds. The chateau has a central section with a basement, a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in its roof space. On its west and east sides, it has side wings. Each side wing has a ground floor and a first floor in the roof space. The central section has a slate roof with two main slopes, adorned with a clock and finials. Along the roof, there are seven wall dormers with curved and triangular pediments. At each end of this central section, there are pyramidal roofs that gently flare outwards at the bottom. The side wings have a ground floor and a first floor in the roof space. They are also crowned with a slate roof.