Four farms from the 16th and 18th centuries, in need of restoration, on an estate with 130 hectares of undeveloped farmland, in southern Brittany - re
Four farms from the 16th and 18th centuries, in need of restoration, on an estate with 130 hectares of undeveloped farmland, in southern Brittany.
In Brittany and within the Finistère department, the property is located along the southern outskirts of the Quimper urban area, less than 10 kilometres from the coast and not far from the Odet River. In addition, Quimper's high-speed rail station provides service to Paris in 3.5 hours.
Located along a road that connects the capital of the historical region of Cornouaille with the Fouesnant coastline, the property was once home to a noble dwelling or a seigniorial farm, on which several tenant farms relied. Today, it is composed of four groups of buildings scattered throughout the property and built out of local rubble stone, primarily topped with slate roofs and all in need of a complete renovation. Set within a natural rolling landscape traversed by a stream, these farms have not been inhabited or used for more than a decade, resulting in several buildings in ruins, although a number of architectural elements carved out of the local granite are noteworthy, including windows, covered carriage entranceways, wells and a bakehouse. As for the land, it is made up of pastures bordered by hedges, woods and heath, and is accessible via private lanes, set back from the public roads.
The Oldest FarmThis was probably built in the 16th century on seigniorial land and included a main dwelling, with at least one annexe dwelling, as well as buildings for the farm's animals and operations. Stone lintels carved into ogees as well as the foundation of the newel for a spiral stone staircase, provide evidence of the age and noble origins of the premises. Despite these historical remnants, the buildings' original footprint remains uncertain, given that its masonry work was torn down, reorganised and reused until the 19th century.
Today, the premises include, to the north, a two-storey dwelling facing north-south with a floor area of approximately 100 m², which has been extended towards the west thanks to a farm building with an attic. With a total floor area of approximately 180 m², on the property's eastern side are the vestiges of two outbuildings in ruins, while, to the south, a third outbuilding faces the dwelling. As for the house, its ground floor includes a foyer with a staircase, a room and a kitchen, each with a fireplace, followed by a utility room, whereas, the upstairs floor contains two bedrooms. The Largest FarmEconomically important in the 18th century, as demonstrated by the archival documentation, including ancient leases, the farm's two-storey original dwelling has expanded over time, but its original structure is still visible opposite a well. In its current state, the farm is made up of two long parallel groups of buildings facing north-south, located on either side of a central space, while an agricultural storage building to the west and an outbuilding in ruins to the east complete the buildings located around the courtyard.
The first group of buildings, or the northern wing, is used both for residential purposes and for the farm's operations. Made up of several contiguous entities abutting one another on their gable ends from east to west, it includes the original noble dwelling, a secondary dwelling and a barn, the latter of which is topped with an attic and contains a cider press. In addition, the northern exterior of this wing gives onto a courtyard, enclosed by a number of small buildings as well as an outer wall. With a footprint of approximately 200 m², the usable floor area of the premises intended for residential purposes comes to approximately 400 m², whereas the footprint of the farm buildings is approximately 110 m².
As for the southern wing, facing the ...
