Local discoveries from JU PI in Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine

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.)

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.

Fital Vakanties’s criteria: - Accommodation: hotels *** (high capacity) - Type of clientele : seniors/groups - Length of stay: 8 to 15 days - Km/day: 45 to 60km, easy roads - Any type of circuit

When arriving in Saint-Méloir-des-Bois, you will be taken by the authentic and preserved aspect of this village from Brittany. The village boasts, since 2000, the certification of “Commune du Patrimoine rural de Bretagne” (Village of the Rural Heritage of Brittany), which shines a light on the existence of an architectural, landscape, ethnological and historical heritage which permits to understand the land and its inhabitants. From its environmental action (Agenda 21) and its preserved countryside, it is also crowned « Village Nature ». Finally, it won prizes for the quality of its flowers and obtained a third flower at the Flowered Towns and Villages contest in 2013. This short itinerary allows each and everyone to discover this charming village. (The proposed itineraries are given as an indication and don’t take into account the possible evolution of the ground or the environment. The use of these itineraries is, therefore, of the individual responsibility of the users, the Office de Tourisme disengages itself from any responsibility towards the use of the map and of potential incidents that may occur on the proposed circuits).

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.  

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!

A semi-detached gite, next to another house in the centre of Ruffigné. Unfenced garden of 400m² with patio. GR.FL: Lounge/diner. Kitchen with fireplace. Bathroom with WC. UPSTAIRS: Bedroom 1-2 (large): double bed, single bed. Additional facilities: freezer, DVD player, stereo, baby equipment. Extra charges for oil-fired heating (14€ per day), electricity, bed linen, towels and firewood. Châteaubriant 10km. Le plus: a lovely old building, close to several rivers

Renate and Nicolas will be happy to welcome you to La Barderie, a rural gîte (4/5 people) located near their organic farm.

Discover the trade secret of the famous French sailor pull SAINT JAMES knitting invite you to discover their traditional know-how of the manufacturing of the famous sailor pull and the nautical striped by opening the doors of workshops just step from Mont Saint-Michel. Since 1889, SAINT JAMES immortalizes the French home-made tradition in the textil production. Certified "Living Heritage Compagny", Saint James propose the discovery of unique history and know-how !

"The U.S.A., proud of the exploits of their sons, humble before their sacrifice, have erected this monument in their memory". The cemetery, the chapel with Memorial Room and the Wall of the Missing, commemorate the 4 410 soldiers resting in this place.

Located 5 km from Mont Saint-Michel, the Moidrey mill dating from 1806 has resumed service after more than a century of oblivion and a restoration that was completed in 2003. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Since its restoration, its miller manufactures flour from black wheat, wheat, rye... and it is with a lot of passion and humor that he ensures visits commented of the mill (Duration 35 mn).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Set-price workday menus during the week

Turkish specialities

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