The Château de Comper is a former castle located in Paimpont forest (formerly known as Brocéliande), three kilometers to the east of the village of Concoret in the department of Morbihan in the region of Brittany, France. It has been rebuilt as a château. The name Comper, like Quimper, probably comes from the Breton word kemper, which means confluence. It is surrounded by several streams and lakes.

History and structure

The castle was originally square, with towers at each of the four corners, linked by strong curtain walls. At the main door was a drawbridge. The first owner of Comper is sometimes said to have been Salomon, King of Brittany in the 9th century. The castle is first recorded history associated with the Baron Raoul de Gaël-Monfort (Ralph de Gael), who was a companion of William of Normandy during the 11th century Norman conquest of England. During the 13th century, Comper was considered one of the strongest castles in Brittany. For this reason, it has been the object of many battles and sieges. It has also changed owner several times in its history: Today, the castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. Now the moat is dry, and the 19th-century mansion houses the exhibitions of the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien about the Arthurian legend.

Legend

The large pond of Comper is related to Viviane, the Lady of the Lake. In the legend, she lives in a crystal palace, built by Merlin and hidden under the waters of the lake.