Planguenoual between coast and heritage

Planguenoual is defined by its coastal landscape, the Balade littorale and buildings that bear traces of different periods in history. This gives you a range of themes to choose from as you plan your trip: a path along the coast, views over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, tidal flats and beach, as well as chapels and other examples of architectural history. If you’d like to combine coastal paths with historic stops, you’ll find both along the Balade littorale.

Coastal path and village route

The Balade littorale Planguenoual starts at the Jospinet car park and follows the GR®34, also known as the Sentier des Douaniers. Along the way, the route offers views over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc and the Jospinet mussel farm. It passes the Pigeonnier de Vaujoyeux and the Chapelle Saint-Marc. Coastal views and historic buildings are thus combined along the route described here.

A 14-km variant offers a different route: it passes through the traditional rural village of La Cotentin. If you include this option in your plans, check local route conditions before your trip. The other details given about the Balade—its starting point in Jospinet, its route along the GR®34 and its views—offer specific pointers to what the path has to offer, without specifying a walking time.

Cliffs, tidal flats and beach

The coastal cliffs of Planguenoual stretch from Pointe de Longue Roche to the rock formation of Ermeleux. Special viewpoints offer views over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. The landscape also includes an extensive sandy-muddy tidal flat covering more than 300 hectares. It is biologically, ecologically and scenically connected to the bay. The cliffs and tidal flats thus show different aspects of the coast: viewpoints and a vast expanse of tidal flat.

Plage de Jospinet is an unlifeguarded sand-and-pebble beach bordered by rocks. At low tide, it is suitable for shellfish gathering. Beach conditions and access rules may change, so check them before your visit. This makes the beach distinct from the viewpoints on the cliffs and the views of the mussel farm.

Architectural history in chapels and the church

The Pigeonnier de Vaujoyeux has a quatrefoil floor plan and has been listed as a historic monument since 29 December 1982. The route also passes the Chapelle Saint-Marc. The chapel was rebuilt in 1859, after being mentioned as a ruin in 1793. This sequence of dates traces its history from the mention of it as a ruin to its later reconstruction.

The Chapelle Sainte-Barbe was restored and altered in 1822. It stands on the site of an older chapel, which René Couffon dates to the 16th century. The church of Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul dates from a different period: it was built from 1902 to 1903 to plans by diocesan architect Le Guerranic and combines Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements.

The Chapelle Saint-Yves du Hourmelin has been known since the 17th century. It has a rectangular floor plan and a single-nave interior, as well as a polygonal chancel and a gable wall with a bell turret. Two dates are given for its reconstruction: according to René Couffon, it took place in 1863; according to Henri Frotier de la Messelière, in 1864. The differing dates are thus attributed to their respective sources.

The “Ancienne croix de cimetière, dite croix de jubilé” is another historic landmark. It was erected in 1875 to mark a jubilee and comes from the former cemetery. What remains is a fragment of a cross made in the workshops of Yves Hernot.

Plants and maritime activities

Herbarius is a medieval botanical garden in Planguenoual. Its collections include edible, medicinal, aromatic and dye plants, as well as nectar- or honey-producing plants and other useful species. The garden adds a botanical focus alongside the coastal landscape and architectural history; its plant groups represent different uses and characteristics.

Mussel farming on bouchot poles is one of Planguenoual’s coastal activities. At Le Panier iodé, visitors can take a boat trip from the Jospinet landing stage to discover mussel farming in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. The Pesc’Apéro trip includes a tasting of seafood and white wine. These experiences depend on the tides and seasonal operations; check dates and availability before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Plouguenast, Trévéneuc, Ploumilliau, La Chèze, Saint-Péver, Saint Mayeux, Ploufragan, Le Foeil

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