Kermaria-Sulard: Churches, Motte Castles and Historic Crosses

Kermaria-Sulard brings together several aspects of the area’s history: the Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie, medieval motte castles, crosses and the Chapel of Kerelleau. If you are interested in culture and history, it helps to distinguish these traces by their architectural form, period and use. The sites range from medieval structures and church architecture to a wayside cross from the 19th century.

Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie

The church is surrounded by its cemetery. In August 2026, it was open to the public. Access may change during restoration work, so check current access arrangements before your visit. The church was rebuilt from 1884 to 1888 to plans by the architect Lageat of Lannion. Its more recent features include eight contemporary stained-glass windows installed in 2012 and 2021. The building thus brings together a late-19th-century reconstruction and windows from much more recent years.

Medieval motte castles and waterways

In the village centre is a group of two artificially raised medieval motte castles. They were built between the 11th and 12th centuries and are 60 metres apart. A motte is an artificially raised castle mound; here, the two mounds together form a motte-castle complex. In Trégor, motte castles generally mark the settlements of the region’s oldest lordships.

The Motte of Coatellec is a circular, artificially raised castle mound about 20 metres in diameter. It is surrounded by a water-filled ditch. Waterways are also among the features of the local motte castles: a stream forms the water-filled ditch around the northern mound, which lies at the confluence of two small streams. In Kermaria-Sulard, you will therefore encounter both artificial mounds and the connection between a castle mound and its water-shaped surroundings.

Crosses in the village centre and in Fospoul

The Croix Blanche stands in the village centre at the junction of Rue de la Croix Blanche and Rue de la Croix Pavée. It is a monolithic cross made of grey granite. It is dated to the period from the second half of the 16th century to the first half of the 17th century. The wayside cross at Fospoul, by contrast, dates from 1824. The dates thus mark different periods: a span of time is given for the Croix Blanche, while a single year is given for the cross at Fospoul.

Chapel of Kerelleau

The Chapel of Kerelleau has been used as a barn since the beginning of the 19th century. Its Renaissance portal has square pillars, two columns with capitals and a triangular pediment; one of the columns is now destroyed. A Latin inscription reads “SOLIDEO HONOR ET GLORIA”. It indicates that, at least in its original use, the chapel was dedicated to Protestantism. The portal’s design, its later use and the carefully qualified religious interpretation each give Kerelleau its own historical context.

A circular cycling route for another perspective

A circular cycling route runs around Louannec, Kermaria-Sulard and Trézény and can be started in any of the three communes. It follows a former railway line and returns via a cycle path. If you add the route to your travel plans, check the current conditions along the route before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Belle-Isle-En-Terre, Larmor-Pleubian, Plouëc-Du-Trieux, Plouaret, Saint-Nicodème, Pouldouran, Saint-Clet, Saint-André-Des-Eaux.

View the regional travel guide: Côtes-D’armor.