Le Bodéo: Lac de Bosméléac and the heritage of Saint-Théo

Le Bodéo offers two distinct areas of focus when planning a trip: Lac de Bosméléac, with its lakeside scenery and recreational activities on the water, and historic buildings and local history. Lac de Bosméléac lies within the territories of Allineuc, Merléac, Le Bodéo and Saint-Martin-des-Prés, making it a landscape feature shared by four municipalities. During your stay, you can distinguish between nature and outdoor activities at the lake and the traces of architecture and history around Saint-Théo.

Lac de Bosméléac: Nature and outdoor activities

The western part of the lake is called “Queue du Lac” and is a wintering and breeding area for waterbirds, including great crested grebes and coots. The nature theme therefore relates specifically to this western section and includes both the wintering and breeding of these bird species.

On the shady shores, well-maintained paths created by the Côtes-d’Armor Department allow you to walk a five-kilometre section around the reservoir. This refers to a partial circuit, not a route around the entire lake. Lac de Bosméléac is also suitable for fishing, walking, horse riding and mountain biking. Nature observation and various recreational activities can thus be enjoyed at the same body of water: you can focus on the birdlife or combine the lake with an outdoor activity.

Architectural history at Saint-Théo

The parish church of Saint-Théo has several clearly dated building phases. A chapel built in 1667 survives in the north transept. In 1705, the church was rebuilt under the direction of Jean Soulié, an architect from Saint-Malo. These dates help distinguish the older chapel from the later reconstruction.

The church’s decoration also has its own timeframe: between 1724 and 1726, the painter Jean-Baptiste Le Corre created the painted wooden barrel vault. A barrel vault is a longitudinally extending type of vault; at Saint-Théo, this feature is made of painted wood. Alongside the building’s history, you can also take a closer look at a specific detail of the church ceiling. The chapel, reconstruction and vault represent different, clearly dated aspects of the church’s heritage.

Saint-Théo Fountain

The Saint-Théo Fountain is located on Rue Saint-Martin. Its spring lies hidden in a hydrangea bush and is covered by a structure with a deep basket-handle arch. A small open channel carries the spring water to a nearby washhouse. You can trace the flow of water from the spring to the washhouse; the arch and the spring’s hidden location also shape its architectural character.

Kérigant during the Revolution

Another historical perspective takes you to Kérigant, the village above Étang de Bosméléac. During the French Revolution, it became a centre of Chouan resistance. Cadoudal and Legris du Val met in Kérigant in the company of the Garnier de Kérigant family. The village is thus connected with the history of the resistance and with the people and families mentioned in accounts of that period.

Themes for planning your trip

You can give different weight to the lakeside interests and historical themes when making your choice. At Lac de Bosméléac, the focus is on waterbirds, lakeside paths and recreational activities. Saint-Théo offers dated architectural history and details of the church and fountain; Kérigant adds a Revolutionary-era perspective. Le Bodéo can therefore be explored through either a nature or cultural theme, depending on your interests.

Discover more destinations: Calanhel, Morieux, Le Quillio, Le Vieux-Marché, Crehen, La Harmoye, Saint-Quay-Perros, Saint-Trimoël

For the broader travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.