Apart from the inhabitants of the commune, few people know of its existence. Built in 1223, the castle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, to the north-east of Rennes, is nevertheless intimately linked to the history of the region. It has long been the symbol of the power and independence of the Duchy of Brittany. But after the defeat of the Breton troops during the bloody battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, which killed nearly 8,000 people, its demolition ordered by King Charles VIII will sound the death knell for Breton independence. The inhabitants then used its stones to build some of the town’s houses and today only ruins of the castle remain, starting with its imposing keep cut in two.
The site becoming dangerous for the public with a risk of falling rocks, the decision was made to restore and enhance the old medieval castle. For the past few weeks, seven companions from the Lefevre company have been working to consolidate and secure the fortress. A colossal project which will last two years and whose cost amounts to 3.2 million euros, financed at 96% by the departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine. “We are not going to rebuild the castle, warns Mélanie Villette, heritage architect. The objective is to freeze these ruins to prevent them from deteriorating further. »
A construction site in a sensitive natural area
Accompanied by an archaeologist, the masons use the crystallization technique for this. After meticulously removing the plants that have taken possession of the ruins, these goldsmiths then clean the stones before resealing them with a mixture of sand and natural lime. “We are redoing the masonry identically, respecting the procedures used at the time of construction,” emphasizes Anne Lemoine, works director for the Lefevre company.
On this site, classified as a sensitive natural area, the workers must also take care not to damage the fauna and flora, in particular the majestic purple beech tree which stands at the foot of the castle. To clean the walls, no chemicals are used, everything is done with water and a brush.
A meticulous work that is already bearing fruit. “When we see how it was a few months ago, we can only be enthusiastic,” says Jérôme Bégasse, mayor of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier. Once the site is finished, the elected official hopes to make the ruins a center and an interpretation circuit “to tell the story of Brittany. And thus restore all its luster to the old medieval castle.