An architectural marvel.

After passing through Plancoët and describing a series of pleasing meanders at Saint-Lormel, the river Arguenon runs into the Channel at Port du Guildo, in the commune of Créhen.
This estuary is overlooked by the ruins of the old castle, known as the castle of Gilles de Bretagne.
There are a number of megaliths in the area and in a covered alley you will find what is undoubtedly the largest dolmen in the east of the département.
The alley, some 13 metres in length, is covered by five flat stones.
The castle must have been built over a fairly extended period.
From the preseent appearance of the ruins, it is likely that certain parts date from the 13th century.
The castle reached its present general form at the end of the 14th century or in the early 15th century.

Over 2,000 years of history...

Corseul is the oldest town in the département. Founded in around the year 10 B.C., capital of the Coriosoliti, an Armorican tribe, Corseul offers an introduction to Gallo-Roman civilisation in Armorica through some of its ancient remains.
1.5km from the centre, on the Dinan road, an ancient wall some ten metres high bears witness to Courseul's importance in remote times.
Before this wall of the cella, the room in which the stature of the divinity used to stand, there once stretched a vast expanse of buildings, covering over a hectare and surrounding a vast closed courtyard where the faithful come to pray at the temple would gather.
Mars was probably the deity worshipped in this sanctuary but no inscription has been discovered that would provide absolute proof.

As you will see, the ancient town of Fanum Martis (Corseul) was organised around a network of streets covering over 100 hectares, crossing at right angles and delineating quarters, each with its own activity: urban dwellings, shops and businesses, temples, baths, etc. Near the present-day town hall, archaeologists have unearthed an entire commercial complex in the main street of the town, lined by a gallery of porticoes. The site, which goes by the name of Monterfil, has now been reconstructed.

Monumental granite sculptures.

François Breton has been creating monumental sculptures for almost 15 years. He splits the stone with a punch and leaves the rough form as it stands.
Then he hacks away with a spike until a human form begins to emerge, and this gives rise to the Ankou.
He is undoubtedly expressing a pitiful and highly contemporary vision of human nature: torturing and tortured.
Painter, fresco painter, decorator, restorer of old manor houses or stone-carver, the artist uses any and every pretext for creation.
His works inclulde a totem representing the Great Bear or Big Dipper, the constellation that guided the sailors of Saint-Malo to the New World, a sculpture with presence detectors that replays an acoustic and visual memory of the visitor, images of combats between man and the superior forces of nature.

All these works are created in the hope that the viewer will derive as much pleasure from them as the artists did from making them.

Ideal for walkers.

The valley of the Arguenon makes Plorec-sur-Arguenon and Pléven favourite centres for lovers of walking, fishing and countryside holidays.
A number of footpaths have been marked out along the lake of La Ville Hatte, leading through varied landscapes.
Admire the dam, built in 1973, retaining some 12 million cubic metres of water.
The lake is 17km long, and extends to the commune of Jugon-les-Lacs.
The dam supplies water to around fifteen water towers, providing drinking water for many of the communes in the region.
In the church of Saint-Pierre, note the extremely fine 15th century font and the recumbent figure of a lady of Plorec.
Also of note is the polychrome wood statue of Saint Roch, dating from the 16th century.

A history of names.

Between 1224 and 1428, the commune was known variously as: Trévenech, Trévenoc, Trévenec and finally Trévéneuc.
It takes its name from Saint-Guthénoc, otherwise spelt as: Guezenec, Guennec, Venec, Veneuc, Venoc.
This name in turn comes from the jeu du crapaud, the toad in the hole game, no doubt made from wood and painted red.
The game involved pitching a two-sou coin into a slot, the mouth of the toad. The first player to succeed would win all the other coins that missed the target. The inhabitants of Tréveneuc were apparently much given to playing this game, hence their nickname of the "red toads".

Main places of interest to visit:
church of Saint-Colomban: traces of an original 14th century building remain in the south wall of the present church;
Château de Pommorio: dating from the 18th century, aligned with the church of Saint-Colomban, surrounded by gardens gradually recovering from the ravages of the great storm of 1987 ;
Le Palus: the "Palus" foreshore takes its name from the Breton word "Palud", meaning marsh". The line of pebbles washed up by the sea prevents the stream from flowing normally, creating a marshy area where reeds grow;
Port-Goret: the name is Breton in origin: Gored means "a fishery with a dam". The remains of the dam can still be seen on the foreshore now known as "Port-Goret".

A writer's whole life in this house.

Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was born in a late 16th century/early 17th century half-timbered Breton house. The street front facade is two storeys high and corbelled.
While the author spent only the first fifteen years of his life here, he never parted with the house and continued to spend his holidays here.

The interior has been designed to recreate the presence of Renan as a child, as a teenager and as a famous writer: it contains the room where he was born, with its granite fireplace and box-bed, the schoolboy's room under the eaves with a little desk, and also a reconstitution of Renan's study at the Collège de France.

For walkers with a sense of curiosity.

Follow this route along Rue de Rimbernin to the Manoir du Tertre (privately owned) and the Passage des Druides with its outcrop of granite boulders.
The Kertugal nature trail crosses the GR 34 footpath which leads to Saint-Marc's cove and the chapel of Saint-Marc, rebuilt in the 18th century.
After crossing the wood and alley of Le Palus, you will come to the church of Saint-Colomban (18th century) opposite which lie the grounds of the Château de Pommorio (privately owned).

Between land and sea.

This magnificent path follows the steep coastal cliffs to explore the coastline and the magnificent turn of the century mansions such as the orientally inspired "Kermoor", before intersecting with the GR 34 footpath for a distance of 5.5km along the coast, on land belonging to the commune.
Le Portrieux, where the first infrastructure work on the bay was carried out, saw the first schooners setting off for the Newfoundland fishing grounds in 1612.
Wallk along Portrieux beach to the roundabout and take the steps that lead up to a magnificent panoramic view of the Port d'Armor, the only deepwater harbour between Cherbourg and Brest, and also over La Comtesse beach and the island of the same name, accessible on foot at low tide.
At the Pointe du Sémaphore, the orientation table identifies key landmarks out to sea, from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel, with an overview of: the plateau of the Iles Saint-Quay, 10km long and 3km wide, as well as Ile Harbour, easily recognised by its house and lighthouse.
Continue along the beaches of Châtelet, Casino and La Grève Noire, the Pointe de l'Isnain and the Grève Gicquel beneath the rock of Gerbot d'Avoine, then the Saint-Quay fountain commemorating the arrival of the evangelising saint, and on to the Pointe du Romeur marking the limit between the communes of Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Tréveneuc.
View over the cove of Saint-Marc and the 18th century chapel.

History and heritage at your feet.

Take the Sentier des Douaniers footpath to begin the circuit along Casino beach, la Grève noire, la Grève de l'Isnain, until you come to Rue de la Source, which you follow up to the Saint-Quay fountain.
Take a right along the Boulevard du Littoral, then left along the Rue des Grèves.
At the roundabout, take a right along Rue Pierre-Loti, then immediately left into Rue Théodore Botrel; continue until you reach Rue des Landes.
Turning right, you will come upon the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde then double back down the Rue des Landes to the D 786 road (be very careful when crossing) and follow Rue de la Garenne to the crossroads: turn left and you will reach the Moulin Saint-Michel, with a magnificent view over Saint-Quay Portrieux and the whole of the bay.
From Rue du Tertre-Breton, after a few steps, go down Rue de la Fontaine and turn right into Rue des Banches. Take a left onto the GR 34 footpath: continue to the Château de Calan (now the KerMoor Hotel) and its oriental style, and the "Viking" memorial stone.

History or gardening?

At the gateway to Dinan, the small commune of Languenan lies at the extreme eastern end of the Val d'Arguenon.
Les Jardins Associatifs, a magnet for all keen gardeners, is a vast educational project that seeks to encourage children into closer contact with nature.
In the choir of the church of Saint-Jacques, built in 1846, note the heavily-worked Baroque high altar and the gilded wooden baldaquin, both listed as historic monuments in 1969.

See also the 18th century polychrome wooden statues representing Saint Anne, Saint Jacques and the Virgin Mary.

Let the magic of the place do its work.

A coastline of contrasts and harmony, the Côte de Granit Rose runs from Trébeurden to Perros-Guirec.
The coppery-pink hue of its granite, the depth of colours in the ever-changing ocean and the magic of the scenery make this an extraordinary stretch of coastline.
The sea seems to orchestrate a symphony of colours; it carves the outlines of the shore and carries you away with its wild beauty through a history and a culture anchored deep in men's souls. The Ploumanac'h lighthouse, standing out at sea surrounded by standing stones and menhirs, will light your way as you go.

Visit the Château de Quintin and its permanent collections.

Two chateaux for the price of one in the same park, in the centre of the characterful town of Quintin. An unfinished 17th century chateau, listed as an historic monument, and an 18th century chateau, also listed.
The base of the 17th century chateau, the richly furnished apartments of the 18th century chateau, the former kitchens (including a granite kitchen-garden of extraordinary size), the permanent collections of china, glassware, silverware, trinkets, christening robes and fans are open all year round.

Go walking in the woods...

In the centre of Tréveneuc, leave your car in the main square.
Admire the town hall, its turret tower giving it the air of a small castle, and the 17th and 18th century church.
Much of the construction of the church was the work of local craftsmen over a ten-year period (1743 to 1754).
Walk past the fornt of the church and leave the town, admiring on your left the lovely facade of the Château de Pommorio (under construction in 1789).
The château and grounds are privately owned and not open to the public.
Near Perhemeno, head for the beach of Le Palus by a track through the woods.
Before reaching the beach, turn right onto the coastal path recently reopened along the cliff tops, which will take you to the beach at Port-Goret (picnic tables), then on to the Pointe du Bec de Vir (orientation table and outstanding view over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel), and finally to Saint-Marc's cove.
The cove offers moorings (for 50 boats), an oyster-farm (buy your oysters here) and the famous 18th century chapel.
Follow the road and then a series of tracks to a high point for a panoramic view over Tréveneuc, the sea and Kertugal in Saint-Quay-Portrieux.
The sunken lanes, reopened for walkers, offer a sight of agricultural activities, and the Mauretour Calvary.
Continue through the woods of Plouha into Kerdrape.

A programme just for you.

For individuals, groups or families, the Saint-Quay is your passport to distant horizons.
Half-day, full-day, weekend or week-long cruises are designed as an introduction to traditional sailing, sea-going culture and the ocean environment.
The half-day cruise takes you around the bay of Saint-Brieuc.
For the day or weekend, sail around the Bréhat archipelago and for the week-long cruise, the lobster-boat will transport to you to the Channel Islands.

Between land and sea.

Just 10 minutes from the beaches of the Côte d'Emeraude, on the banks of the River 'Arguenon, the "pretty village" referred to by Chateaubriand has become a lively and attractive town, famous for its mineral water.
Minerals and literature are not the whole of it: there is history, too, in the 19th century church of Saint-Sauveur, harmonious neo-Romanesque building.
The church is dedicated to Saint Sauveur, even though the patron saint of the parish is Saint Florian.
As you make your way through the narrow lanes, note the 16th century half-timbered and encorbelled house.

The wonderful world of shells.

The Maison du Littoral, which stands at the heart of this natural site looking out to the Pors Kamor lighthouse, offers an insight into the Côte de Granit Rose through its exhibitions and explanations of nature.
For children: workshops to learn how to tie sailors' knots, a "touch and learn" house full of minerals and a light-table display on local flora.
There is also a model explaining place names along the channel leading to Ploumanac'h harbour.

Fun and relaxation!

Pony rides, lessons by the hour or courses, preparation for federation examinations, voltige, driving and outings, trekking: a whole range of horse-riding activities for all ages and all levels: equestrians, push your limits; beginners, enjoy a new experience!
Walks through the countryside and on the beaches, through a landscape of a thousand secrets.

Go green.

At the very heart of the Côte de Granit Rose, in the communes of Trégastel and Perros-Guirec, the Traouïero are two deep valleys: the Grand and the Petit Traouïero, through each of which runs a stream that ends its course in the natural harbour of Ploumanac'h.
A network of signposted paths pionts the way through this designated Breton natural heritage site.

Birthplace of Chateaubriand.

Bourseul, a tiny commune between Plancoët and Jugon-Les-Lacs, is where Appoline de Bédée and René Auguste de Chateaubriand, parents of the famous French writer François René de Chateaubriand, were married and lived for some years at the Manoir de la Boitardais.
Here you may visit Le Moulin du Pont Loyer: living witness to the crafts of the past, the mill is powered by the waters of the River Arguenon.
400 metres upstream, a mill pond was created by building a small dam some 25 metres long with a set of sluices adding another 5 metres or so. The mill pond supplied water to the mill by diverting water from the river into an artificial channel known as a mill race (bief, in French).
A little further on, the Château de Beaubois, restored and largely rebuilt in the 19th century, and its grounds make an authentic setting well worth a visit.
Through the grounds of some 200 hectares there runs a Roman road. The private chapel of Our Lady at Beaubois, built between 1886 and 1888 and consecrated on 16 September 1890, can be seen from the road that runs nearby.

A wildfowl reserve.

Off Perros-Guirec, the archipelago of the Sept Iles (seven islands) makes up the largest wildfowl reserve in France.
The archipelago is home to 27 species of nesting bird including 13 species of sea bird, making a total of over 20,000 nesting pairs.

The seven islands are Rouzic, Malban, les Costans, Bono, l'Ile-aux-Moines, l'Ile-Plate and Le Cerf.
This group of rocky islets has been a protected site since 1912 and was designated a nature reserve in 1977.
Imagine hundreds of Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, European Shags, Razorbills, Common Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, Great Black-backed gulls, Herring gulls and Lesser Black-backed gulls nesting in hollows in the rocks.
The island of Rouzic is home to France's only colony of Northern Gannets.