Exceptional opening – European Heritage Days 2026
Kéroch'iou Manor in Morlaix: a 1563 monument opens on 20th September
Kéroch'iou Manor, in Morlaix (Ploujean), built in 1563 and listed as a historic monument, opens its doors for free on 20th September 2026: a lecture, dry-stone walling, and traditional slate-cutting demonstration.
Editorial journal · Carte des Châteaux ·
Constructed in 1563, Kéroch'iou Manor in Morlaix is now over 460 years old. This slate-and-granite residence, a listed historic monument and private property, will open its doors to the public free of charge on Sunday, 20th September 2026, from 11:00 to 17:00, as part of the European Heritage Days. The programme includes a lecture by heritage architect Marie Lennon, an introduction to dry-stone wall restoration, and a demonstration of traditional slate-cutting.
A rarely opened private manor
Kéroch'iou Manor is a private residence, as noted by the French Ministry of Culture, and its opening hours are not published. It is no surprise that the 2025 edition of the European Heritage Days was announced as an 'exceptional opening', featuring a guided tour of the courtyard and façades, along with a presentation of excavation results by Inrap. In 2026, the format changes: a single day, Sunday, 20th September, with a programme focused on restoration.
1563: a manor from the Trégor region of Finistère
The Mérimée database dates the building to 1563, placing it in the third quarter of the 16th century—making it 463 years old in 2026. According to manor-focused websites, it is a classic example of a Trégor manor with a closed courtyard, its coat of arms evoking the ancient seigneuries of the Toulgoat and Porzpozen families. Among the figures associated with the estate is Pierre-Claude Haudeneau (1717–1792), Count of Breugnon and Lord of Keroc'hiou. The manor has been listed as a historic monument since 26th November 1979, with protection covering the façades, roofs, and entrance gateway.
Slate, granite, and heraldic shields
The building is rectangular in plan, constructed from rubble slate with granite used for window and door frames, corner quoins, and string courses. A square tower flanks the north-western corner; according to the manor’s description, it houses a staircase and a dovecote. On the eastern façade, a round-arched gateway is adorned with three heraldic shields. Ruins of older buildings remain in the northern courtyard.
Restoring a monument: the day’s central theme
According to the Finistère Cultural Agenda, Marie Lennon’s lecture will cover the manor’s architectural history and the renovation work planned for 2027. The afternoon sessions will introduce traditional restoration techniques. The 2026 European Heritage Days themes are 'Heritage of Photography' and 'Heritage in Peril: Reviving, Resisting, Reimagining'—this programme, centred on the preservation of a private monument, resonates with the latter theme. The manor’s website states that Laure Colomer is overseeing its restoration.
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