Château de Kergrist - How to Tour the Château and Gardens
Château de Kergrist is a hidden gem in the Trégor Valley close to Ploubezre in the Côtes-d’Armor department of Brittany. It was on a warm summer’s day that I took a day trip to visit the beautiful and lovingly preserved Château de Kergrist and garden complex. Château de Kergrist at Ploubezre is just 8 kilometres from Lannion and tucked into a sheltered area near the River Léguer.
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Brittany has many official "monumental and remarkable" gardens that are open to the public during the warmer summer months on specific days. Visiting these gardens is a popular summer pastime and so it's worthwhile to plan on arriving a few hours before any closing time as gates are locked and ticket boxes closed some time prior to published closing times. Carparks are sometimes a little way from the main gates and ticket boxes so comfortable shoes are recommended.
After buying your ticket, often from the manoir and garden owners, or château history volunteers, you'll be given a map and you can then wander the gardens at your own pace. If entrance to a château is included it may be with a guide or self-guided with the assistance of your map or an audio guide. There may be signs to follow and roped off areas, not open to the public.
The château overlooking the southern courtyard
The east side of the château overlooking the French garden. You enter these ground floor doors for the self-guided château tour.
The French garden on the east side of the château.
Château de Kergrist is a history written in stone across six centuries
The chateau was built and added to over different centuries and the extensive gardens created over time to overlook the Léguer Valley. The story of the château begins in the 15th century when Jehan de Kergrist and his wife Gillette le Cozic commissioned the first building, an octagonal tower and two houses that formed the original Breton Renaissance manor.
A larger second tower was added in the 16th century, and in the 17th century the estate passed through marriage to the Kergariou family, who added a classical eastern façade and the double-staired grand entrance leading to what would become the French garden. (see photos above)
The southern façade followed in the 18th century under the Barbier de Lescoët family. During the French Revolution, the château was sold as national property and it was divided, looted, turned into a farm and then abandoned.
The Huon de Penanster Family
The rescue and transformation of the Kergrist property after its division, looting and abandoment is thanks to the Huon de Penanster family who since 1867, have restored and maintained the amazing complex. They even installed ancient panelling from the nearby Abbaye de Beauport at Paimpol. The formal gardens that spread over four hectares were created under Napoleon III, inspired by the designs of André le Nôtre. Amazingly since 2024, the 5th and 6th generations have worked together to continue this work and preservation.
English styled garden area
The Gardens — Four Worlds in Four Hectares
The gardens of the Château de Kergrist are divided into four distinct worlds. There is a French formal garden, an English garden, an exotic garden, and a Japanese garden.
The French garden, inspired by a design by André Le Nôtre — the great gardener of Versailles — opens out below a grand granite-balustraded terrace facing the 17th century façade to the east. To the north, the more sober borders suit the Renaissance façade of the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Japanese gardens are found by following the winding path away from the château. This path is part of the full walking circuit of the park. Some of the landscaped gardens were recreated after the great storm that hit Brittany in 1987 when many of the parkland's ancient trees were damaged.
On the day I visited, the gardens were immaculately kept, the different areas flowing naturally one into the next, and the views from the upper terraces over the valley of the Léguer were simply lovely. It was the kind of afternoon that stays with you - relaxed, inspirational for anyone who loves to garden and a window into French history.
Château de Kergrist orangerie
The Orangerie is a wedding venue & private event space
In 2020 a new orangerie was built beside the French garden for weddings and private events and part of the garden has been converted to a large parking area for guest vehicles. The bridal walk part of the garden is a long straight path between ancient tall trees leading towards the wedding orangerie. The old stables have been converted into accommodation for guests and you can see how beautiful they are by watching my YouTube video below.
Claire Huon de Penanster's bedroom
Claire Huon de Penanster's bedroom
Living salon
Private dining area
Visiting Château de Kergrist and What You Need to Know
On entering the property you'll see the ticket office and tea salon surrounded by a rock garden. The château is open for audio-guided visits of the apartments of Charles and Claire Huon de Penanster combined with self-guided tours of the gardens. Once you have your ticket and guide booklet, you're free to explore.
Part of the tour includes bedrooms, living salon and a private dining room.
From 1 June to 30 September, the château is open Wednesday to Friday from 2pm to 7pm, with last entry at 6.15pm. The château also opens on specific occasions throughout the year — the European Heritage Days in September, and special garden openings in May in aid of cancer research.
Check the official website for the full calendar of events and openings and an incredible aerial photos of the property: chateau-kergrist.fr
Getting To Château de Kergrist
The Château de Kergrist is located at Ploubezre, 22300, approximately 8 kilometres south-east of Lannion in the Côtes-d’Armor. By car, it is 45 kilometres from Morlaix and 72 kilometres from Saint-Brieuc. The nearest airports are Lannion (small regional airport with links to Paris) and Brest (approximately one hour). From the nearby Pink Granite Coast, a visit to the château is an easy half-day excursion.
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