manoir du Plessix-Madeuc

Manoir du Plessix-Madeuc is a 15th-century manor house in Corseul, a small town in the Côtes-d'Armor department, in the heart of Brittany's Argoat countryside. The estate sits on the site of an old medieval defensive motte, and the surrounding land preserves traces of Gallo-Roman settlement — Corseul was once a significant center of the Coriosolites people.

How do you get there?

Corseul lies a short drive south of Dinard and Saint-Malo and close to Dinan, making it an easy stop while exploring northern Brittany's Emerald Coast area. The manor stands on the edge of the village, surrounded by fields and hedgerows typical of the Breton bocage landscape. A car is the most practical way to arrive, with Dinan and the coastal towns providing the nearest access roads.

What will you see on site?

Construction began in the 15th century and continued through the 17th and 18th centuries, giving the manor its current, layered appearance. The building follows a T-shaped plan and faces south. Its walls are built from schist and rough granite, while the south-facing façade was finished in dressed stone, giving the main front a more formal, polished look. The southern residential wing rises over a single square-plan storey topped by an attic level under a hipped, four-sided roof.

One of the most striking features on the grounds is the well, whose roof takes the shape of an upturned keel covered in overlapping slate "scales," with two openings closed by pointed oak lintels. It is among the most photographed details of the whole property.

Inside the manor and around its staircase, reused Gallo-Roman elements survive, including fragments of ancient brick built into the walls and an antique marble column incorporated into the stairs. These are direct traces of earlier occupation, reinforced by finds of roof tiles and ceramics uncovered nearby.

Who has lived at Plessix-Madeuc?

According to research by historian Frottier de la Messelière, the Madeuc family was the first to hold the estate, in the 15th century. Ownership passed to the Lenfant family the following century, then to the Jan family during the 17th and 18th centuries, before eventually reaching the Hinguant de Saint-Maur family.

Can you stay overnight?

Yes. The manor today belongs to film producer Susanna Dörhage-Mius and architect François Mius, who welcome guests to the property. It carries the "Fondation du Patrimoine" heritage label and now operates as a bed-and-breakfast with several self-catering gîtes, including units known as Le Logis and La Passerelle. In summer, the grounds also host open-air concerts, adding another layer of life to this historic site.

When should you visit?

The best window runs from May to September, when the weather suits walks through the surrounding fields and gardens and when the summer concert programme is most likely to be running. Brittany can turn rainy outside these months, so it's worth checking gîte availability and weather conditions before booking a stay.

Frequently asked questions

Is Manoir du Plessix-Madeuc open to visitors? It is a privately owned estate run as guest rooms and gîtes, so access to the buildings and grounds is mainly reserved for overnight guests.

How old is the manor? Its oldest parts date to the 15th century, with major additions completed in the 17th and 18th centuries, built on the site of a former medieval motte.

Are there Roman-era remains nearby? Yes — Corseul was once a center of the Coriosolites during the Gallo-Roman period, and the manor itself reuses materials from that era, including an ancient marble column.

What else is worth seeing besides the manor itself? The estate's old well is a highlight, with its distinctive upturned-keel roof covered in slate — one of the most recognizable details of the whole property.