History of the Chapel of Château du Colombier

The Colombier Chapel is an important part of the historical estate of the castle: it was built in 1754 by Julien-Pierre Eon, Lord of Carman, and his wife Marie-Jeanne Le Breton, then owners of the estate; the date is still visible on the pediment above the entrance.

It was constructed to serve the private religious services of the inhabitants of the castle and its lands, thanks to financial foundations established in 1751 and reinforced in 1755, allowing for several masses per week.

The chapel was blessed on November 7, 1755, by a canon from Saint-Malo Guillaume de la Haye under the invocation of Our Lady of Colombier, and its first chaplain was appointed shortly thereafter.

Revolutionary Period and Damages

During the French Revolution, like many private chapels, the place was completely ransacked: its furniture and religious objects were looted, and the chapel lost much of its original decor.

Marie-Jeanne Le Breton was guillotined in Paris on June 20, 1794.

Subsequent Restorations

After the revolutionary period, the chapel was restored and then abandoned several times during the 19th century, before being restored by the successive owners of the castle.

One of the significant restorations was carried out by Mrs. Quemper, who installed the current altar (from the old church of Paramé), and later by the Viscount and Viscountess of Saint-Meleuc, who furnished and equipped it to allow the reopening of the place for worship or meditation.

Today

The chapel remains a heritage element of the estate, visible from the gardens and open to visits as part of the castle. It bears witness to both the religious architecture of the mid-18th century and the historical upheavals experienced by the property.