Le Quillio: Chapels, Linen and Trails

In Le Quillio, sacred architecture, linen-making and trails along the rigole d’Hilvern offer different ways to shape your stay. Festival dates may also be a factor when planning your travel dates. Whether you are interested in chapels, local history or outdoor activities, the places and trails below give you specific points of interest for your visit.

Chapels and church history

The southern chapel of Notre-Dame Church dates from 1486–1487. It was initially dedicated to Notre-Dame de Délivrance and later to Our Lady of the Rosary. Remains of a large pictorial program created around 1500 survive on its east wall. These include an extremely rare depiction of the pregnant Virgin Mary. The chapel’s construction date and the later pictorial program thus mark two distinct historical moments.

Chapelle Saint-Maurice also offers a glimpse of different building phases: it was built in the 15th century and partially rebuilt in the 18th century. Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Le Quillio was built in 1854. The church in Le Quillio also preserves part of the furnishings from Bon-Repos Abbey. If you are interested in sacred architecture and art, these details offer several specific topics that differ in both date and content.

Linen washing and bleaching

Le Quillio was known for bleaching linen fabrics. Around 1750, 47 of the 117 bleaching works were located there. This figure illustrates the importance of linen bleaching in the town at the time. The possible identification of 28 houses as former cloth merchants’ homes is also part of Le Quillio’s textile history.

The sites of Lavoir du Roz and Pont-de-la-Messe are associated with different linen-related activities. Lavoir du Roz was used to wash linen fabrics woven in the region. The washhouse at Pont-de-la-Messe, built in the 18th century, was associated with bleaching linen fabrics. This distinction helps set washing and bleaching apart as two different aspects of the local textile history.

Trails along the rigole d’Hilvern

The Grand Circuit Le Quillio runs along the rigole d’Hilvern and then continues to the Site de Lorette. The Sentier les « Toiles Bretagnes » hiking trail can be used on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. These offer different ways to orient yourself: the Grand Circuit is described as following the rigole to the Site de Lorette, while three ways of getting around are listed for the Sentier.

A greenway also runs along the rigole d’Hilvern in Le Quillio. If you plan to include it in your itinerary, check the current condition of the trail before setting out. This is especially helpful if your choice depends on how you intend to use the trail. The route information thus offers different starting points for planning, without requiring you to link a particular activity to any of the cultural themes.

Festivals when planning your trip

The Pardon de Saint-Maurice is associated with May, and the Pardon de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette with August. La Quirigole is associated with the first weekend in July. If you want to visit Le Quillio specifically for one of these events, check the exact dates for your travel year. This lets you plan your trip around a festival without assuming that the dates mentioned are confirmed every year.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Julien, Plouha, Lanloup, Coëtlogon, Mellionnec, Plélan-Le-Petit, Landebaëron, Pludual.

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