700 years at the heart of Brittany
History
The Pordor estate
The Pordor estate was the home of a powerful seignory from the beginning of the 13th century. The château was enlarged and modified many times during the 16th, 19th and early 20th centuries. It nevertheless retains the essential features of the medieval manor dating from the 14th century, miraculously spared by fire and by the upheavals of the Revolution.
Château du Pordor stands at the heart of a 30-hectare estate, on the edge of a small lake. It offers a magnificent country setting, with many century-old trees of various species.
700 years of history
The Pordor estate was the home of a powerful seignory from the beginning of the 13th century. The château was enlarged and modified many times during the 16th, 19th and early 20th centuries. It nevertheless retains the essential features of the medieval manor dating from the 14th century, miraculously spared by fire and by the upheavals of the Revolution. Receptions take place in this, the oldest part of the château.
On the ground floor, the largest room, once a council and banqueting hall, has been restored to its original dimensions and is now the main banqueting hall. Three of its four beams are original. Sadly the fireplace has gone, and only a fragment of its jambs remains. In the entrance hall, however, the jambs and hearth of the fireplace are from the medieval period, the hood having been added in the 18th century. This hall was originally the lord's private study.
On the first floor, from which the two outer towers were most often reached, was a large room flanked on each side by two bedrooms: one above the entrance hall and the other above the red banqueting room, which was originally a kitchen. Many alterations and extensions followed. In the early 16th century the grand staircase was built into the rectangular tower set against the east façade.
The château was miraculously spared by fire and by the troubles of the Revolution; it then belonged to Monsieur de Mauger, who had bought the seignory from the Duke of Lorges on his return from Santo Domingo in 1777.
In the second half of the 19th century, the large building to the north was begun by Monsieur Couetoux du Tertre but never completed. It remained a stable and barn until the present owner, Monsieur de Varreux, converted it into a small theatre (used as a ballroom for wedding ceremonies). In 1906, Monsieur Pommier, then the owner, built the southern part of the château overlooking the lake.
At that time the Pordor estate comprised five farms totalling some 300 hectares. The estate was later inherited by the Cochard and Le Gouvello families. Before them, many well-known families — or lesser-known but regional ones — were owners, such as the Luzanger, Le Breton de Villandry, the Duke of Lorges, Mauger, Salentin, the Count of Goulaine and Couetoux du Tertre families.
Today the château remains entirely private and is the residence of the Trutié de Varreux family, its current owners.
700 years of history
The various owners known to date. Château de Pordor has successively belonged to:
- 1301 – 1372
Lusanger family
- 1372 – 1417
Kervavin family
- 1417 – 1540
Saint-Gilles family
- 1540 – 1614
Thehillac family
- 1614 – 1683
Lebreton de Villandry family
- 1683 – 1737
Butault de Marzan family
- 1737 – 1773
Durfort de Lorges family
- 1773 – 1821
Mauger family
They did not leave the château during the Revolution but appear to have been left undisturbed.
- 1821 – 1847
Salentin family
Monsieur Salentin was mayor of Avessac; his daughter was Countess of Goulaine.
- 1847 – 1879
de Goulaine family
- 1880 – 1883
Couetoux du Terte family
- 1883 – 1902
Figat and Gicquel family
- 1902 – 1937
Pommier family
- 1937 – 1995
Cochard family
- 1995 – présent
Trutié de Varreux family
Patronage and sponsorship
Dear heritage lovers,
In order to make the chapel safe enough to be opened to the public, we are running a participatory sponsorship campaign. The works will secure the walls and create stained glass windows. The chapel will be saved thanks to your contribution! We estimate the cost of the restoration at around €30,000, divided as follows: master glazier, masonry, architect.
A big THANK YOU for your generosity and your continued support since the beginning of this adventure!
The Château book
If you would like to know more about the château's book, titled « Le Pordor », it is available for sale on site. All proceeds from its sale go directly towards supporting the progress of the restoration, and we thank you sincerely for your generosity and your support.