Château de Bienassis

Château de Bienassis
At the end of a long horse-riding avenue bordered by centennial trees, you will surely be amazed, turning your gaze to the left, at the intersection of the paths leading to the park and the château.
Its name, astonishing, is subject to numerous fanciful etymological interpretations. In reality, it is its particular location that is the origin. Situated at the center of a slight depression in the ground, surrounded by marshes as far as the eye can see, it benefited from an environment favorable to establishing a stronghold that was easily defensible. Almost invisible to a rider for miles around, it only emerged on the horizon by the top of its round tower. From there, the defenders could easily monitor an immense territory: in clear weather, it even allows one to distinguish the Anglo-Norman islands! Well located, "bien sis" is thus the true origin of the fortress's name.
This superb Renaissance-style building saw its first stones laid at the end of the 15th century by Jean I du Quelenec. The pink granite of Erquy was the base material of a stronghold whose ramparts descend into a belt of moats. In the past, a drawbridge defended its entrance. At its peak, it was the central stone of a vast estate of six thousand hectares comprising 27 farms and 3 mills.
By the end of the 16th century, the League Wars caused this jewel to lose much of its splendor through multiple destructions. Gilles Visdelou became its owner by marrying the daughter of Quelenec and began its reconstruction starting in 1620. The château then successively became the property of Visdelou's son and then his grandson, who continued the works that would only be completed in the 18th century. By marrying the heiress Visdelou, Count de Lamarck and Prince of Arenberg became the next owner, bequeathing the estate to the Duke of Arenberg upon his death. Not caring for a château situated far from his homeland, he quickly sold it to Count de La Ville Theart, a cousin of his wife. Under his influence, the property took on a different dimension, closer to a manor house, and it was at this time that the large horse-riding avenue leading to the doors of the building was created. The Revolution saw it pillaged, partially burned, and even temporarily transformed into a prison. It was purchased in 1796 by Jean-André Valletaux, an Empire general, and then resold by his grandson in 1876 to Monjarret de Kerjugu, admiral and senator of the department.
Since then, the destiny of this château has been administered, managed by the female branch of the Kerjugu family, the spouses passing away shortly after successive inheritances. In 2005, the Kerjugu willingly lost this vast estate, the last owner of the name (Ghislaine) transferring it by donation to Nathalie Huguet, the wife of one of her nephews.
It has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1945.

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