Château du Plessis Josso, Theix, France

The Château du Plessis-Josso is a fortified 14th century manor house. It is open for tours during the summer, and offers its main hall for hosting events and marriages as well as a small country cottage outside the enclosing walls.

Well-preserved and partially inhabited, the manor-house stands next to a large pond. This feudal Breton ensemble still has its fortified enceinte with towers and crenellated walls that protected it from the armed gangs and pillagers who were operating in the region during the Hundred Years' War and later during the Wars of Religion of the 16th century.

Built around 1330 by Sylvestre Josso, squire of the Duke Jean III during the turbulent period of the Breton War of Succession in the 14th century, it passed next by a powerful alliance to the Rosmadec family and served as a residence for dignitaries such as a bishop, sénéchaux and the governors of various Breton towns. In the late 18th century it became the property of the Le Mintier de Léhélec family who still live there today.

Plessis-Josso, like all 15th century manors in Brittany, had especially an agricultural function as the head of a domaine of 1,500 hectares spread over several parishes and a with population of nearly 500 inhabitants. It had several mills, baker's ovens, a chapel and a small private port in the Gulf of Morbihan. Its role was therefore political, economic and administrative.

Architecture

This medieval site is composed of several sections of varying architectural styles and eras: the main corps de logis dating from the 15th century with its Gothic dormer windows, a 16th-century Renaissance pavilion, Classical 17th century outbuildings, and a complete enclosing wall whose corner tower defended the access road that spans the causeway, between the lake and the mill.

The ground-floor hall has a very beautiful example of a crédence de justice (wall-cupboard built directly into the stone wall) that was used by the lord of the manor to place books and documents relating to the administration of the manor-court.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Patrick Dervout (2 years ago)
Important: if you want to use the free parking available opposite the entrance to the mansion, pull your car out of the alignment of the road and do not try to enter it directly, as you can usually do. Back up to the mansion first, to present your car perpendicular to the entrance to the parking lot. This one is very narrow and its low walls are not vertical: stones protrude towards the middle. Focused on your mirrors, you can't see them and you'll scratch and dent your door slightly (rear right for me?). I specify that my car is not an SUV, and has a quite ordinary width: 1.80m, excluding mirrors. The owners would be well advised to put up a sign to alert and advise this manoeuvre. When you walk into the estate, there is no one to greet you or sell an entry ticket. We are counting on the honesty of visitors to put the €2 per person in the metal box available. The sight which is offered to our eyes is pleasant, the small covered well, the small garden... A wing of the manor is in restoration, a beautiful scaffolding breaks the harmony of the place. The interior, of which only the kitchen and the entrance are open to visitors, is of only limited interest. It is curious that this place appears in the famous tourist guides.

Anne Cecile Velvetine (2 years ago)
A beautiful castle in a nice quiet area. Visit the nearby village of Gorvello!

matthieu mollet (2 years ago)
We were lucky enough to be able to organize our daughter's wedding there. Remarkable welcome from the owners of the premises who kindly made this fortified manor available to us and facilitated the setting up of the reception. We are conquered.

Laurence Douillet (3 years ago)
I took advantage of Heritage Day to visit this mansion and I am not disappointed because its construction is magnificent in its balance, simplicity and aesthetics. I learned a lot about Breton mansions in different centuries and our young guide was very interesting because she knew her subject well and answered all our questions. Recently arrived in Morbihan, it is a great discovery and I highly recommend this visit.

Jérémy Devigne (3 years ago)
Note subject to change. During our visit we were only able to access the courtyard of the castle. We were out visiting ect. However, the observation is to see that, just by stopping at the inner courtyard, everything was perfect, we see the maintenance and the investment of the people working there. In short, do not do like me and contact them before going there.

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