Discover Chartres-de-bretagne with HOTEL THE ORIGINALS BOUTIQUE LA CHAUSSAIRIE

You can meet at the "Place du Champ de Foire" of Nozay to begin this historical trail. Step by step, you will discover the history of the shale, this characteristic local rock has been a huge part of Nozay’s landscape. It has been sculpted to pave the Roman roads, then to build manors, barns, calvaries, churches or wash houses and ovens…, the blue slate is everywhere. On your way, do not hesitate to open the doors of "L’Enclos", an ancient churchyard of medieval architecture made in shale, ranked as a historic monument. Then, you can walk along the variant of "Les Grées" (no access with horses), that has an interpretive trail in which you will go in an ancient blue slate quarry transformed into a sports natural area (rock-climbing, mountain bike and orienteering).

In the beginning, it is large roads and farmer tracks that invite us to continue in the countryside. Then from little villages to isolated hamlets, the trail alternates between small roads and small underwood trails to prepare us for the adventure to come. Further away, the silhouette of the tin mine of Abbaretz dominates the landscape and there are also small trails that you can discover. On the other side, the lunar atmosphere of the mine invites us for a few moments of amazement before going back on the path of the peaceful shores of the lake of Gruellau.

The trail makes you enter the most beautiful parts of the forest of the Gâvre.

To begin this trail, meet up at the parking lot of the slag heap of Abbaretz. This former mining site is worth it. During the time of Julius Caesar, this mining site was one of the most important sources of tin. The climb of the 200 steps will take you to a unique view of the region.  

This track is full of nature and memories.

This nice and quiet track guides you to the fountain Saint-Clair. Its waters were famous for its healing properties.

Go and discover a village-centre that will know how to surprise you From the centre animated by the shops and its Sunday market, to its buildings show casing the use of local granite, you'll wander to original natural spaces. There are no signs along this itinerary. (The proposed circuits are given as an indication and do not take into account the possible evolution of the grounds or the environment. The use of these itineraries is therefore left to the individual and personal responsability of the users, the Office de tourisme disengages itself from any responsability as to the use of the maps and the eventual accidents that may occur on the given itineraries.)

The area of Malansac extends from Rochefort-en-Terre (town listed as a "Petite Cité de Caractère"), to the Grées, a shale and slate-like strip that towers over the Valley of Arz. The Circuit des Ardoisières offers fantastic views but be careful; due to the presence of old open pit mines, it is recommended that you stay on the marked path. VTT marks n°5 blue

Rochefort-en-Terre is very lucky to have a rich architectural heritage. Thanks to the local government’s desire to maintain and protect the site, this village is now classified as a Petite Cité de Caractère (an award honouring the remarkable architectural heritage and landscape of small villages in France). Rochefort-en-Terre is also part of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages in France) and Villes Fleuris (an award recognising a town’s respect for the environment, protection of a social and community network, and quality of its tourist facilities) with four flowers thanks to the combined efforts by the community and residents. Starting from Place du Puits, take Rue des Scourtets, and then, Chemin des Douves, located to your right. Walk along the strongholds and fortifications built during the 14th and 16th centuries.

Spend a sensational hour at the Piloting School in Rennes. Accompanied by an instructor, take control of a tourist airplane! Spend a sensational hour at the Piloting School in Rennes and take control of a tourist airplane while accompanied by an instructor,  Make the most of this activity for two and soar through the air. Learn the theoretical basics of piloting a tourist airplane from your instructor. You will be taught how to taxi, take off, turn and land. Before taking off, you will learn all about the plane as explained by your teacher. Then, led by your pilot-guide, take turns sitting at the helm of the plane and taxi on the runway towards the take-off point. Once in the air, you will feel the thrill of flying through the clouds and take in splendid views of Brittany’s landscapes. Treat yourself by choosing this activity for two and have a sensational experience at the helm of a tourist airplane!

Accompanied by your instructor, spend 15 exciting minutes at the Piloting School in Rennes. You will immediately take control of a tourist airplane! Accompanied by your instructor, spend 15 exciting minutes at the Piloting School in Rennes. Then, you will immediately take control of a tourist airplane. Led by your pilot-guide, taxi on the runway towards the take-off point. At take-off time, the pilot will take the controls then let you continue going upwards. Once in the air, you will feel the thrill of flying through the clouds. You can even do some turns, ascents and descents. Take in splendid views of Brittany’s landscapes and enjoy the unique experience of being at the controls. Start your descent towards the runway where your instructor will take back the controls for a short while to land before letting you taxi towards the airport’s parking lot. Treat yourself to this sensational experience at the helm of a tourist airplane!

Spend an unforgettable hour at the Piloting School in Rennes. Take control of a tourist airplane with an instructor. Spend an unforgettable hour at the Piloting School in Rennes and take control of a tourist airplane while accompanied by an instructor. Make the most of this activity and soar through the air. Learn the theoretical basics of piloting a tourist airplane from your instructor. You will be taught how to taxi, take off, turn and land. Before taking off, you will learn all about the plane as explained by your teacher. Then, led by your pilot-guide, sit at the helm of the plane and taxi on the runway towards the take-off point. Once in the air, you will feel the thrill of flying through the clouds. Take in splendid views of Brittany’s landscapes and enjoy the unique experience of being at the controls. Treat yourself by choosing this activity and have a sensational experience at the helm of a tourist airplane!

Pré du Doué is close to the owners' home in a hamlet in peaceful countryside with footpaths, 15km from Châteaubriant. Unfenced garden of 1000m² with 2 patios (west -facing and east-facing). Stream and wash pool on-site (not fenced). A pretty, detached, single-storey, renovated gite. Lounge-diner with open-plan kitchen. Bedroom 1 : double bed. Bedroom 2 : twin beds. Bedroom 3 : king-size bed. Shower room. WC. Additional facilities : radio/CD, DVD player, satellite TV, high chair. Price includes electricity, all linen (beds made on arrival). Extra charges for electric heating (11€/day). Garage for 1 car.

A 17th century miller's house, restored using natural materials such as slate and lime, with a patio and wooded grounds beside the river Chère on the edge of Brittany. Boules area, rowing boat, canoe and bikes available. The 2 upstairs guest rooms each have an en-suite shower room with WC and antique furniture. Bedroom 1: double bed, single bed. Bedroom 2: double bed. Large character living room with fireplace. Additional facilities: internet access, DVD player, baby equipement, hairdryer, cot. 'Tables d'hôtes' evening meal available featuring local specialities and home-grown organic vegetables (please book beforehand). Le plus: rest and relaxation guaranteed.

A renovated mill with uninterrupted views of a 4-ha, private fishing lake. Enclosed garden of 1500m² with fenced patio overlooking lake. GR.FL: Hall. Bedroom 1: twin beds, en-suite bathroom. Bedroom 2: twin beds, en-suite shower room. WC. Laundry room. UPSTAIRS: Lounge/diner with single sofa bed and open-plan kitchen. Bedroom 3: double bed, en-suite shower room. WC. Additional facilities: freezer, tumble-drier, baby equipment, washmachine. Price includes gas-fired heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and firewood. Châteaubriant 7km. Le plus : a beautiful, relaxing setting

The gîte has a 500 m² garden with barbecue and car park. Ground floor: living room for 50 people, lounge (fireplace, table football, TV and 2 convertible sofa beds), fitted kitchen, 3 separate WCs, 1 bedroom with 5 single beds (disabled access), private bathroom and WC. Upstairs: 2 bedrooms with 5 single beds, 2 bedrooms with 4 single beds, including 1 bunk bed in each upstairs bedroom. Private bathroom and wc in each bedroom. 1 mezzanine (2 convertible sofa beds). Wood-fired boiler, lime/hemp insulation. Facilities: telephone, DVD player, video projector, hi-fi system, Wi-Fi access, tumble dryer, washing machine, table football, cot and high chair on request. Groups and seminars welcome. Room for 50 people included in the Grand Gîte rental or to rent separately from Monday to Friday: €90 per 1/2 day, €190 per day. 2 other gîtes are located on site: Le Gîte de la Cour (11 people) and Le Gîte Ker Anna (12 people). Includes: heating by wood-fired boiler, wood, electricity and made-up beds. Not included: bathroom linen. PLEASE NOTE: The Gîte de la Cour is always rented with the Grand Gîte at weekends between 1 April and 1 October. The rest of the year (from October to March), you can book the number of gîtes of your choice for 1 night or more if you wish. Total capacity of 42 beds for these 2 gîtes. Possibility of adding the Ker Anna gîte for a maximum of 50 beds.

An entirely natural experience! A perched hut surrounded by majestic oak trees, bathed in sunlight, with dry toilets and a solar shower! A moment out of time with a view over the pond and the countryside. A stopover on the road between Le Mans and Rennes / Angers / Nantes. Very comfortable bedding, all linen and accessories provided. Panoramic views. Covered swimming pool on the property (optional), heated from June to mid-September. Shared with the 2 other accommodations. No kill fishing in the 3,200m² pond, pike, roach and carp (>=10kg). Fontaine Couverte is 6.7km from La Guerche de Bretagne, with all shops and services. La Rincerie leisure centre 15km away: swimming, swim golf, wake-park, hiking, etc. Possibility of renting the entire estate for stays of up to 10 people in 3 accommodation areas (H53G025121) with a 64m² room for 32 people (optional). To complete your stay, book Céline's homemade breakfast and dinner featuring local produce!

Relaxing gîte with hot tub, terrace and private garden in the countryside. Comfortable bedding, services included: beds made, linen and utilities. Warm, discreet welcome from Céline, the owner. Access to the covered swimming pool on the property (extra charge), heated from June to mid-September, and to the 3200m² pond for fishing or nature watching. Shared with the 2 other accommodations (8 people maximum). Located between Le Mans and Rennes / Angers / Nantes. Fontaine Couverte is 6.7km from La Guerche de Bretagne, with all services and shops. La Rincerie leisure centre 15km away: swimming, swim golf, wake-park, hiking, etc. The 3 gîtes can be rented for up to 10 people (H53G025121). You can also rent a 64m² room for 32 people (with supplement). Don't forget to book Céline's homemade breakfast and dinner with local produce!

Slate mining began around 1878 and finished around 1911. The largest quarry called "Guenfol" or "Blue Lake" had an above ground surface area of 3,500m2. 18 to 20 million slates were extracted per year by nearly 300 labourers. The site was then transformed and today known as "Park de Préhistoire" (Prehistoric Park).

There used to be little industries in Plélan, and the granite quarries poorly worked because of a relative isolation. In the 1930's, Plélan, chef lieu de canton (administrative centre of a groupe of villages), had 980 souls. After the war, the surroundings of the streets, the village centre and the national road are built, changing the village into a street-city. The village-centre then had 7 bars, 2 bakeries, 2 butchers, 1 cobbler, 1 saddler... There are manly small shop owners and artisans. There are no entreprises, unlike Plancoët, because of a lack of roads and of port. In front of the back of the church, the old "Hôtel des voyageurs" can be found, a hotel that had 5 rooms and of a sometimes subversive reputation. 300m from there to the South, at the bottom of the playging fields, used to be a train station for the lign Jugon-Dinan, taken apart in 1938/1939. The train had four 4 wagons (3 for goods/ 1 for travelers). Plélan was a quiet village, its inhabitants united. From the 1970's onward, the good situation of the village helps the installation of new inhabitants. Its when the mairie was built with the granite extracted South of the village. Go around the building by the left and follow the street.

Stay on the same sidewalk for about 250m (after the castle). You can see the layers of the old Roman road. Take on the right the path to Trégouët Abbey, and climb the hill up to the Temple. On this hill, the largest Gallo Roman sanctuary of Brittany stands. Created ex-nihilo, this monument appears as a tool to serve the integration of the local populations and shows the dedication of the Coriosolites city to the Empire. Its construction, based on the size and the cost, was in two stages and on a few decades between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The Romano-Celtic building, facing east, is organised around a vast sacred courtyard covering 5,000m² (108m x 98m). and is surrounded by three raised porticoes. It is said to be Romano-Celtic since it uses, in its architecture, a polygonal cella (most sacred area of the sanctuary) in Celtic tradition, associated to the Greek system with three porticoes, the whole linked with the Etrusco-Italic constructions through its frontality. The columns are in the Tuscan style, very puridied Roman architectural order. One entered the sanctuary through the vestibules which allowed to host, control and guide the pilgrims. The sacred area could hold around 5,000 people. The processions and calls of the Emperor representatives took place under the porticoes. The octogonal cella, (tower originally 22.50m heigh) of which four walls still remain, was the most sacred area of the sanctuary, reserved to the sacerdos (priests) and the elite. The cella housed the tutelar deity's statue, Mars Mullo. The pilgrims couldn't access this area. To pray to the god, they turned in the adjoining gallery and left their offerings to the God in a small exedra. The sanctuary was destroyed by fire, most likely between 275 and 290 AD. Voluntary fires caused during pillages by Saxon pirates going up the Rance River, or by peasants revolts against imperial power and social order. Many a building, public or private, walls or enclosures, of the area has been built with the stones from these ruins. An interpretative itinerary in free access shows you the life of the sanctuary. Slip into Gaius' mind, our mascotte, and let yourself be lead into the pilgrim's ceremony! Go around the site and retrace your steps to CORIOSOLIS.

This humid area close to the village centre is called "les plantations". It's after the great storm of 1987 that the idea to creat a preserve zone at the beginning of the Montafilan River is born. A rehabilitation project is being lead since 1999: 1200 trees and shrubs are plantes, a walking path, a great swale and panoramic view points are designed. Nature reclaims her rights.

A first presbytary was built in 1766 and called "la Fabrique". It is administrated by clerics and seculars. Often flooded, inaccessible by rise in the water levels, it is replaced by the current building in 1890. Left after the great tempest of 1987, the municipality chose to rehabilitate it in 2010 as a common house and garden.

The washtub is an important place of the last century in the life of a village, a place to socialise. Built around 1950, it is restaure with its ladder fish and its lusqh surroundings, or old "Ondine", piece of art made in hommage of the Lavandières by Laétitia Lavieville. As to the path, in a valley where the playing noises of pupuls can be felt, it is easy to guess the cunicol origin of its name.

Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens Church (1876-1878) is designed by architect Théodore Maignan and Réglain company. It is built with stones from local quarries. The building is of a Latin cross plan, of which the transept has four chapels and the chevet and wings cut off corners. The first stone was consecrated September 17th, 1876; the church was brought to worship April 21, 1878 and consacreted by Bishop David, November 5, 1878.

On the banks of the lake, we offer a new menu every week, as well as a menu of galettes, crêpes and ice creams. Creperie and traditional cuisine Open on summer afternoons.

Set-price workday menus during the week

The owner and his team welcome you in a friendly atmosphere for meals cooked with local produce. In this beautiful farmhouse, they offer two types of restaurant: a brasserie with a buffet of starters (weekdays only) or a traditional restaurant. At weekends, the menu features a range of tasty dishes, including fish with beurre blanc.

Nestling in the village, the owners welcome you to their contemporary setting. Having gained experience in France and abroad, they now offer traditional, authentic cuisine using local produce.

Bivouacs must be booked in advance, if possible, by calling 06 63 95 88 14. Possibility of using shower and WC Showers, toilets, sinks, electricity, kitchen area 500m from the swin golf course, bar, small restaurant, bed and breakfast, golfing activities.

4 guest rooms located in the heart of the countryside, near the swin-golf.

Pré du Doué is close to the owners' home in a hamlet in peaceful countryside with footpaths, 15km from Châteaubriant. Unfenced garden of 1000m² with 2 patios (west -facing and east-facing). Stream and wash pool on-site (not fenced). A pretty, detached, single-storey, renovated gite. Lounge-diner with open-plan kitchen. Bedroom 1 : double bed. Bedroom 2 : twin beds. Bedroom 3 : king-size bed. Shower room. WC. Additional facilities : radio/CD, DVD player, satellite TV, high chair. Price includes electricity, all linen (beds made on arrival). Extra charges for electric heating (11€/day). Garage for 1 car.