A most unusual construction site

Finally, in 1998, the great day arrived: building teams set off to the island to tackle a construction site that was unlike any other. Daniel Lefèvre, France’s Chief Architect for Historic Monuments, worked closely with the regional board for cultural affairs as well as the project manager for the site, all wanting to stay faithful to the original spirit of the great structure. An extraordinary restoration project began! Of course, the fact that it’s an island brought its own challenges, with the wind, the rain, the salt air, and the changing weather conditions constantly limiting when work could be undertaken.

Contending with the wind and the tides

Building the slipway was the first vital step. Stretching for 20 metres, this reversible landing stage was designed to withstand the surroundings and the weather. Once the Château had been made accessible, the restoration could truly begin. Entirely funded by the government, work began on the outside, with major stonework and masonry including the joints and flagstones, injecting lime mortar,  and making the terrace waterproof. The drawbridge was dismantled and rebuilt as an exact replica that would also be operated by hand, as it was originally. Finally, the door frames and window frames, some of which were restored, some replaced.

Four years later, all the inner rooms of the Château had their turn under the watchful eye of the workers. The walls, the vaulted ceilings, and the staircases were restored, and an oak floor was laid. All the decorations are the same as they were originally, recreated using the techniques from the 1700s. In June 2006, the construction work was finally complete: a few touches of set design and the Château was once again back to its former glory.

Photo : Emilie Quéméneur / CCIMBO Morlaix