In Finistère, a fire devastates the Kernault manor, classified as a historic monument

Flames are ravaging the four corners of the globe at the start of 2025. On Sunday January 12 in Finistère, a fire broke out in the roof of the Kernault manor, in Mellac, around 8:30 a.m. This site, classified to historic monuments, has benefited since the fall of 2020 from a restoration campaign on its two main buildings. According to local newspaper information The Telegram there is nothing left of the roof, which has just been given a new look. Only a few elements of the framework of the seigniorial residence resisted the disaster observed at the top of the building.

For the moment, the reasons for the start of the fire, which required the intervention of 77 firefighters and the large ladder, are still unknown. The assistant for culture of Mellac, Nolwenn Le Crann, deplored « a disaster » with the Telegram. Because the manor, built in the 15th^e century and whose estate extends over 32 hectares, is one of the five heritage sites in the department of Finistère. It has also been owned since 1900. Before it closed following damage from storm Ciaran, its park welcomed around 100,000 visitors per year.

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« Cornerstone » of Finistère heritage

The department of Finistère has already invested nearly 4.5 million euros to carry out the two phases of work which were supposed to be completed next March. Fortunately, only the roof of the Kernault mansion was devoured by the flames. The half-timbered attic, for example, an exhibition space which also serves as a café and shop, has remained « intact »assures Maël de Calan, president of the departmental council of Finistère. Tomorrow, it will nevertheless be necessary to carry out « major rehabilitation works [pour] rehabilitateconfided Xavier Bouyer, director of the EPCC “Heritage Paths in Finistère”. The Department will do the right thing, even if it takes time [et] will commit to resuming work. » However, he hopes that most of the damage will be covered by insurance.

 

« The Department will do the right thing, even if it takes time [et] will commit to resuming work »

Xavier Bouyer, director of the EPCC “Heritage Paths in Finistère”

For his part, the mayor of Mellac, Franck Chapoulie, declared that it was a « disaster for the municipality and the department ». The councilor was one of the first on the scene of the disaster. For good reason, he lives a few hundred meters from the manor. « When I received the alert, I opened my shutters and immediately understood that it was serious. I saw black smoke. It’s terrible »he confided to Telegram. Before concluding, moved by this tragedy: « It is the cornerstone of our heritage which is going up in smoke ».