Get off the beaten track in Brittany

4 secret natural sites in Brittany

The Prat mill

Located on the banks of the Rance, this tide mill from the 15th century is a real hidden treasure. Unique in Rance today, this mill which used the force of the tide to turn its millstone, ceased its activities in the 20s. You can now attend the milling demonstrations, with Michel or Jean-Yves, and discover the ingenuity of the craftsmen of the time. Not far from there, the ports of Hisse and Lyvet offer pretty panoramas, with their plaice fishing huts, witnesses to the maritime history of the Rance Valley. This type of fishing was formerly practiced between the Châtelier lock and the Taden plain. If you are passing through Saint-Samson-sur-Rance, don’t miss the Thiemblaye menhir, classified as a Historic Monument!

Evran

The charming village of Évran invites you to relax with its River port and lock houses. Running alongside the Ille-et-Rance canal, the towpath is an ideal meeting place for walkers and boaters. Just a 15-minute walk away, the Beaumanoir Castle, in the classic 17th century style, is distinguished by its two towers with a hull roof, evoking an overturned boat. And to extend this bucolic stroll off the beaten track, what could be better thanBétineuc pond, ideal for a day of outdoor leisure! Do you prefer works of art? The work of the artist Laetitia Lavieville and her sculptures, exhibited at theBoutron lock, will delight you!

4 little-known sites along the water 

Port a la Duc

Nestled between Fréhel and Pléboulle, Port à la Duc offers a fascinating spectacle to the rhythm of the tides. At low tide, the landscape transforms, revealing bouchots et oyster beds, which testify to local shellfish farming activity. This coastal site also attracts a wide variety of birds, particularly from September to March, which makes it an ideal place for ornithology enthusiasts. And for the record, in the past, pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela passed through Port à la Duc! 🥾

Mordreuc Hold

This village of stone and hydrangeas is a real gem to discover. Since the Mordreuc Hold (from the old Breton "mor-treug": crossing by the sea), enjoy a lovely view of the Saint-Hubert bridge and the medieval Péhou castle. In Pleudihen-sur-Rance, you can also observe the Mordreuc tide mill. For the little anecdote, the Mordreuc hold was previously the HQ of Joséphine, a female sea calf! 🦭 

4 hidden historic sites in Brittany

Maison Yvonne Jean Haffen

Located at the port of Dinan, this former residence of thepainter and ceramist, Yvonne Jean Haffen, is today a museum dedicated to her work. Admire his charming garden, and his world in his house-workshop-museum on the banks of the Rance. Every year, a new exposure is presented there from his 4 paintings, drawings, posters, engravings, photographs... 

The Faluns

15 million years ago, a shallow and warm sea covered part of Brittany. To understand the unique geological history of this region, visit the House of Faluns, in Tréfumel. You can also open the doors of the Sainte-Agnès church, a jewel of Romanesque art. Its interior will surprise you both with its architecture, but also with the richness of its furniture. To get off the beaten track in Brittany, take your getaway to Who or with her Gallo-Roman villa, its old station and its permanent exhibition “Des Faluns, à la mer”, and the Château de Hac. 

Discovery walks that have lots of secrets to reveal to you

The Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer interpretation trail 

Follow him sound trail and interactive which will guide you through 6 points of heritage interest, a beautiful panorama at Pointe du Chevet, and an exhibition space at the Maison du Pêcheur. To learn the history and anecdotes of the different points of the interpretation trail, the interactive totems will allow you to access audio content, thanks to a QR code.