Episcopal palace of Cornouaille, Episcopal palace near Saint-Corentin Cathedral, Quimper, France.
The episcopal palace features two wings and a Renaissance-style spiral staircase tower, decorated with Rohan coats of arms and Breton ermines.
Built in 1507 by Bishop Claude de Rohan, the palace underwent expansions in 1645 and 1776, with further modifications made in 1866.
The palace now houses the Breton Departmental Museum, displaying regional artifacts and hosting exhibitions that highlight Brittany's heritage.
Visitors enter through Roi Gradlon Street and can explore the former episcopal kitchen, which maintains its original structure despite a 1939 fire.
The spiral staircase culminates in a palm tree-shaped carved ceiling, while the frescos room features early 16th-century painted architectural illusions.
Location: Quimper
Address: 1 Espl. François Mitterrand, 29000 Quimper, France 29000 Quimper 29000 Quimper
Opening Hours: Lundi-Vendredi 13:30-18:00
Phone: +33298559855
Website: https://theatre-cornouaille.fr
GPS coordinates: 47.99560,-4.10220
Latest update: March 3, 2025 07:34
This collection brings together buildings that demonstrate seven centuries of Breton architecture, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In Brittany, especially in Finistère and its surroundings, these constructions reflect the evolution of techniques and architectural tastes over time. Romanesque churches like the Priory of Locmaria in Quimper, founded in the 11th century by Benedictine monks, Gothic structures such as the Saint-Corentin Cathedral with its two 75-meter towers are present, as well as Renaissance homes like the Kerazan Manor in Loctudy, which retains its original decor. Local materials, notably granite and slate, characterize these buildings and give them a strong regional identity. Some buildings now house museums, such as the former Episcopal Palace of Quimper, which hosts collections from the Breton Departmental Museum, or Kerazan Manor with its Breton artworks. Other sites combine architecture and gardens, like the Lanniron Castle with its 17th-century French-style gardens or Trévarez Castle surrounded by wooded parks. These sites enable visitors to understand Brittany’s architectural history and offer a journey through the centuries.
Quimper Cathedral
5 m
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper
71 m
Musée départemental breton
61 m
Prefecture hotel of Finistère
129 m
Maison des Cariatides
101 m
Statue of René Laennec by Eugène-Louis Lequesne
54 m
Maison 14 rue Kéréon, Quimper
139 m
Maison, 12 rue Kéréon
130 m
Maison, 22 rue Saint-François
149 m
Maison 10 rue du Salé, Quimper
163 m
Equestrian statue of Gradlon
39 m
Pipe organ of cathédrale Saint-Corentin de Quimper
40 m
Ancien évêché de Quimper
47 m
Immeuble rue Sainte Catherine, Quimper
171 m
Maison, 14 place Saint-Corentin
74 m
Chapelle neuve de Quimper
90 m
Immeuble rue Sainte-Catherine, Quimper
175 m
Maison, 18 rue Saint-François
152 m
Maison, 20 rue Saint-François
150 m
Hôtel de Boisbilly
161 m
Maison, 24 rue Saint-François
151 m
Maison, 3 place au Beurre
162 m
Maison, 16 rue Saint-François
154 m
Maison 4 rue du Lycée, Quimper
175 m
Maison 1 rue du Lycée, Quimper
173 m
Maison 3 rue du Lycée, Quimper
179 m
St. Corentin square
26 m
Maison, 2 rue du Lycée, 6 rue du Salé
165 mReviews
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