This is a very nice property off the beaten path in my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 breton of my lovely Bretagne in my belle France! The first time, I saw an antique auto show event and decided to take a look and found out this is a beautiful palace out in the woods! As the property is huge, I have split the story into the palace side and the gardens side. The older post combine the two but I am updating it too. Hope you enjoy the Domaine de Kerguéhennec of Bignan, the gardens!
The Château de Kerguéhennec, (Domaine for the whole , the Castle is in the middle of the property) nicknamed the Versailles Breton, is an 18C castle located in Bignan. It is about 20 km north of Vannes, in the direction of Pontivy, the castle of Kerguéhennec was built in 1710 for two wealthy Swiss financiers from St. Gallen but settled in Paris, the Hogguer brothers, shareholders of the company of the India. You take the voie express or fast road N165 to exit with the D767 direction Pontivy. Then it becomes direction Locminé, then St Jean Beveley, and Bignan 56500; you have well posted signs all the way so by car is very easy to find. Plenty of free parking when you get to the Domaine.
The estate (Domaine) will then pass by inheritance to Marie Louise Marguerite Lanjuinais, daughter of Paul Henri Lanjuinais and wife of Arthur Espivent de La Villeboisnet. Finally, the eldest daughter of the latter, Elisabeth Anne Marie Espivent de la Villesboisnet, became Countess Pierre Humières in 1933, who will inherit it herself by way of In division in 1943. It is she who on January 19, 1972 will sell the Domaine de Kerguéhennec to the Department of Morbihan.
It was only at the end of the 19C that the park, covering an area of 45 hectares, of woods, ponds and meadows, was considerably remodeled by Denis Bühler. To the north, the ample and sinuous lines will then succeed the rectilinear alleys of the French gardens. An arboretum made up of species from different continents is then set up. To the south, a bridle path has been dug in the axis of the castle to accentuate the perspective. The agricultural property, with an area of 175 hectares, is now operated by the Morbihan Chamber of Agriculture.
The Domaine de Kerguéhennec park is a place of reference for the presentation of contemporary sculpture. Created in 1986, the sculpture park now brings together more than thirty works by major artists. To explore these scuptures, visitors are invited to take the two routes set up to the south and north of the castle.
My favorites on the south (sud) trail are : Richard Artschwager (1923-2013 – United States) Step to entropy. Vincent Barré1948 – France Couronne. Nicolas Fedorenko (1949 – France) Spiritual landscape. Richard Long (1945 – England) A circle in Brittany. Maria Nordman (1943 – Germany) Fragment for a future city. Carel Visser (1928 – 2015 Netherlands) L’Oiseau Phénix. And Julien Perrier (1970 – France) Paul-Henri’s rebus
My favorites on the north (nord) trail are : Élisabeth Ballet (1956 – France) Trait by trait. François Feutrie (1983 – France) Neo-Renaissance cinema. Hreinn Friðfinnsson (1943 – Iceland) Second House (Secondary residence). Étienne Hajdu (1907-Romania – 1996-France) Seven columns to Stéphane Mallarmé . Giuseppe Penone (1947 – Italy) Charming Trail .Jean-Pierre Raynaud (1939 – France) 1000 painted concrete pots for an old greenhouse . Edouard Sautai La Pierée ,and Marc Didou Portal for an unknown.
You have in the middle of the park and the old stables a nice display of arts and a pretty cafeteria; nice to sit around this wonderful property indeed. See the old laundry or lavoir right around the lake beautiful scenery peace and quiet!
The Official Domaine de Kerguéhennec webpage: http://www.kerguehennec.fr/le-domaine
The Bretagne/Brittany tourist board on the Domaine de Kerguéhennec: http://www.brittanytourism.com/discover-our-destinations/destination-broceliande/unmissable-sites/the-kerguehennec-estate
The Central Morbihan tourist office on the Domaine de Kerguéhennec: https://www.centre-morbihan-tourisme.bzh/bouger/en-famille/13-le-domaine-de-kerguehennec-a-bignan.html
Another nice outing in my neck of the woods all wonderful, beautiful Domaine de Kerguéhennec in little Bignan. Hope you enjoy the off the beaten path find in my area. If around and the car show is on, will be perfect way to come in , otherwise for the architecture and history of it is enough for me.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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