The Chateau de Keriolet is an attractive 19th century chateau close to the town of Concarneau in the Finisterre department of Brittany.
Explore the Chateau de Keriolet
France This Way review: The Chateau de Keriolet is an attractive chateau with a number of rooms to visit.
The Chateau de Keriolet was originally a manor house built in the 13th century.
In the 19th century the chateau belonged to Princess Zenaide Narischkine who had it remodeled by the architect Joseph Bigot for her husband.
The princess was 20 years older than her husband who was a commoner. She bought him two titles of nobility and he became both the Count of Chauveau and the Marquis of Serre!
The remodeling gave the chateau its neo-gothic air and the princess who was very attached to the Brittany region had many symbols of Brittany and of Royalty incorporated in the decoration.
You can discover statues of a Breton couple in traditional dress and ermine paws which are the symbol of Breton. There are also fleur de Lys, the symbol of royalty and a carving of King Louis XII on horseback
Inside the chateau you can visit the guardroom with its stained glass windows and ornate fireplace; the weapons room with its fleur-de-lys tiles; the living room where the princess stored her various collections including tapestries and porcelain; the dining room with its Chinese influence; and the magnificent kitchen.
The kitchen is totally covered with blue-patterned Desvres tiles, each of which is hand-painted. Cooking was done in a large oven as well as a small bread oven and in the fireplace.
Also to see in the chateau is the first microscope that was given to a youthful Louis Pasteur who went on to become a microbiologist famous for discovering the principles of pasteurization and vaccination.
Lots of cooking pots and utensils are on display
In the inner courtyard of the chateau you can appreciate the passage of time. The west wing is medieval, the north wing is Renaissance and to the side of the Salle des Gardes is a flamboyant display of neo-Gothic architecture.
Under the floor is the crypt and even in the past the chateau was served by a heating system where a boiler in the crypt dispersed heat through ducts into the floor above.
The crypt is currently used as an exhibition space and has a display of paintings.
The Chateau de Keriolet is open from mid June to mid September, every day except Saturdays, for guided visits.
As well as daytime visits you can visit for an aperitif on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6.30pm, from June to September by reservation only.
Various other events are organised throughout the year including a Christmas market and a series of 'Murder parties'.
Attractions nearby
The Chateau de Keriolet is just five minutes away from the lovely town of Concarneau with its walled medieval town on a rocky outcrop.
Pont-Aven is a lovely village where Paul Gaugin once lived and painted.
See more castles in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Finistere guide and the Brittany guide.
To make travel arrangements to visit Chateau Keriolet see HERE
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Map of Chateau Keriolet and places nearby
Places to visit near Chateau Keriolet
Concarneau
Now listed as a town of art and history, you will find lots of interesting monuments in Concarneau
Concarneau guide
La-Foret-Fouesnant
La Forêt-Fouesnant is a small village with the third largest marina in southern Brittany.
La-Foret-Fouesnant guide
Beg-Meil
Beg-Meil is a popular tourist spot and home to some very pretty beaches and coves.
Beg-Meil guide
Kerascoet
Kerascoet is a beautiful hamlet of thatched cottages near to the sea and the beach of Rospico.
Kerascoet guide
Benodet
The long established resort of Benodet has a very scenic harbour for your promenade!
Benodet guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Finistere
The French version of this page is at Chateau Keriolet (Francais)