Plélan-Le-Petit: Churches, Crosses and Paths in a Granite Town Centre

If you are considering Plélan-Le-Petit as a destination for a hotel stay, you can focus on two highlights: the town’s architectural history and a circular walking trail that connects the granite town centre with distinctive natural areas. The church, historic crosses and landscape each give the town a character of its own.

Church and Local History

The parish church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens was completely rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style between 1876 and 1878 on the same site as its predecessor. The architect was Théodore Maignan. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; the chancel is polygonal, and there are four chapels on either side of the transepts. The portal and the Gothic pinnacles above the tower have survived from the earlier church.

Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens was first mentioned in 1330 as both a priory church and a parish church; it was dependent on Beaulieu Abbey. The present church building and this early mention mark two distinct points in time: the history of the church site goes back further than the 19th-century Neo-Gothic reconstruction.

The Manoir des Fossés is also part of the town’s architectural history. It dates from the mid-14th century and is considered the oldest building in Plélan-Le-Petit. The manor is protected as a historic monument; its Gothic roof timbers are considered rare in Brittany. Alongside the church stands a building whose recorded history dates back to the Middle Ages.

Crosses and Historic Buildings

The Sept croix and their plinths are made of granite. They are arranged in a semicircle on a low masonry wall. Their construction history includes the years 1793 and 1795; by decree of 21 December 1925, they were listed as historic monuments. In 1861, Abbé Morin, parish priest and dean of Plélan, wanted to bring three crosses together to form a calvary for the Corpus Christi processions.

The ossuary of Plélan-Le-Petit dates from the 17th century and is considered a communal burial site that was used before the French Revolution. Another historic point of reference is the rectory: the present building replaced an earlier house in 1890, which was often flooded during high water and then inaccessible. In 2010, the municipality decided to convert the rectory into a community centre and community garden.

Granite Town Centre and Natural Areas

The architecture of the town centre is remarkably consistent. Many of the houses were once shops and were built from granite from local quarries. The buildings’ former uses thus complement the architectural history of the church and historic monuments with an everyday perspective on the town centre.

Les Plantations is a wetland close to the town centre, at the source of the Montafilan. The site includes a walking trail, a large hollow in the terrain and viewpoints. During the development of the site, 1,200 trees and shrubs were planted. The area thus brings together the wetland with the walking trails and viewpoints described here.

Walking Trails in Plélan-Le-Petit

The circular walking trail “Le patrimoine de Plélan-Le-Petit” is 4.2 kilometres long and is rated very easy. It connects the town centre, shaped by the use of local granite, with distinctive natural areas. As conditions can change, check the latest route information before setting out. Its length and difficulty rating give you two practical points of reference if you would like to include the circular trail in your day’s plans.

The separate walking trail “Le Montafilan” starts at the Parking de l’Embarcadère. Together, the two routes offer different starting points for exploring the area: “Le patrimoine de Plélan-Le-Petit” links the town centre and natural areas, while “Le Montafilan” is identified by its starting point at the car park. When considering a hotel stay in Plélan-Le-Petit, you can therefore take an interest in both the historic architecture and the trails as separate attractions.

Discover more destinations: Langrolay-Sur-Rance, Trévéneuc, Langast, Caulnes, Lanvollon, Coëtlogon, Eréac, Quemperven.

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