Discover Mantallot: Churches, Crosses and a Cycling Route

In Mantallot, churches, oratories and roadside crosses lead to different chapters of the town’s history. They date from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century. Other points of reference include the Jaudy, which forms the town’s natural eastern boundary, and the Rospez–Berhet–Quemperven circular cycling route No. 12. Travelers who include cultural history and cycling in their plans will find a range of topics here, each of which can be explored on its own.

Saint-Médéric Church and the Bertu Oratory

The parish church of Saint-Médéric was built from the late 17th century through the first half of the 18th century. Its reliquary has been classified as an object since 1968. The two dates refer to different things: the first describes when the church was built, and the second when the reliquary was classified. There is a special requirement for visiting: the parish church is open only by prior request to the town hall. Call ahead to check whether someone responsible will be on site.

The Bertu chapel oratory was built in 1958–1959 near a spring dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Vertus. Materials from the now-ruined seigneurial chapel of Lochou, which dates from the 17th century, were reused in its construction. The oratory thus brings together a mid-20th-century building and reused materials from an older chapel. The spring also has a religious connection: according to local tradition, mothers pray to Notre-Dame-des-Vertus for children who have difficulty walking.

Manoir de Kerilis: Stair Tower and Well

The Manoir de Kerilis is a former seigneurial residence that was probably rebuilt in the 17th century. Its described architectural features include a rear stair tower with a wooden spiral staircase. It leads to the first floor and the attic floors. A reused component can also be found at the well: it incorporates an old millstone made of grey granite. The staircase and well thus offer two specific insights into different aspects of the property—the vertical connection between floors and the reuse of an older stone.

Roadside Crosses and Their Different Historical Layers

The “Croix des Quatre Vents” roadside cross is located at Les Quatre Vents in Mantallot. Its shaft is dated to the 16th century; the upper section, which bears a cross, probably dates from the first quarter of the 19th century. The dates show that the parts of the cross are attributed to different periods. By contrast, the Mantallot cemetery cross is a monolithic cross made of grey granite, probably dating from the 16th century. The front depicts the dead Christ, and the back depicts the Virgin and Child.

The Penn ar Guer roadside cross probably dates from the late Middle Ages and stands on the historic “chemin du Vieux Marché à La Roche.” Another cross, “Croix de chemin, Park Mézou,” is located, according to a local description dated May 13, 2021, at the entrance to Park Mézou road, where it meets the D33D, north of Mantallot town center. Local arrangements may change, so check its location before visiting. The base of the cross bears the date 1773 and an inscription naming the Vicomte de Kergariou as its donor. The year refers to the inscription on the base, while the date of the Penn ar Guer cross remains uncertain.

Landscape and Circular Cycling Route

The Jaudy forms Mantallot’s natural eastern boundary. For cyclists, the Rospez–Berhet–Quemperven circular route No. 12 is another concrete planning consideration: it is 24.2 kilometers long. Large green-and-white bicycle signs, along with smaller supplementary stickers, mark the route. Its length and signage make it easy to consider as a topic in its own right alongside the cultural sites, without conflating different visiting and planning considerations. If the route is revised, distance information and signage may change. Check the information for your planned route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Quintin, Saint Mayeux, Ploubalay, Saint-Martin-Des-Prés, Trémorel, Eréac, Le Bodéo, Mellionnec.

For the overview of the wider region: Côtes-D’armor.