Ploubalay: Hiking, Heritage and Market

There are several ways to plan a trip to Ploubalay: two walking routes of different lengths, a neo-Gothic church in the centre, and market and workshop dates. The polder and several historic buildings also shape the themes you can consider when planning. Depending on whether you are more interested in hiking, exploring architectural history or scheduling a visit for a particular date, you can focus on different things.

Hiking and countryside around Ploubalay

The Polder de Ploubalay circular trail is a 4 km walking route in Ploubalay. The Circuit du Floubalay is 9.5 km long, starts at the Ploubalay tourist office and passes through natural and cultural landscapes. This circular route is rated “easy”. The route lengths provide a clear point of comparison; however, the difficulty rating applies only to the Circuit du Floubalay. When choosing your route, you can therefore consider these details separately rather than assume both routes have the same profile. Trail and route conditions may change; check the latest information about the Circuit before setting out.

The Ploubalay polder lies at the end of the Bay of Beaussais in Lancieux and covers 70 hectares. It is separated from the sea by a 1,800-metre-long earth embankment, partly covered with stones. The area and the embankment describe different aspects of this landscape: the size of the polder and the long man-made boundary separating it from the sea. This gives you a concrete framework for exploring the polder as a landscape.

Church and historic buildings

The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul stands in the centre of Ploubalay. This large building is designed in the neo-Gothic style. Its history can be traced through two clearly distinct dates: the church was first mentioned in 1163 in a papal bull by Alexander III; it was consecrated on 28 October 1877. The first mention and the consecration therefore refer to different events. Together, they offer a historical perspective on the church building’s long recorded history.

Other buildings also add to the historic picture. The Chapelle Saint-Sébastien in Ville-Briand is thought to date from the 16th century and was restored in the late 19th century. It is one of the oldest chapels in the Ploubalay area. The malouinière La Ravillais was built around 1737 for the knight René-Joseph Le Métaier. The grounds of the Château de la Crochais also include a manor house dating from the 15th century. These details help distinguish the different building periods: from the 15th-century manor house and the probably older chapel to the 18th-century malouinière.

Market and workshop visits

Ploubalay market takes place every Friday morning at Place de la Gare. As the schedule may change, check the latest information before your visit. If the market is important to your trip, Friday morning is the relevant time to plan around.

Since 1986, Baie des Caps has been making Breton marinière sweaters, town sweaters and accessories at its workshop in Ploubalay. Its products draw on traditional techniques and inherited expertise. During the summer school holidays, workshop visits are offered Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As this is a seasonal schedule, check the current visiting hours before you travel. Friday mornings at the market and the summer workshop hours may offer different points of reference when choosing your travel dates.

Transport links and planning your stay

BreizhGo route 12 connects Dinan, Taden, Ploubalay and Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer. This provides a direct link between the places listed for your travel planning. As routes and reservation details may change, check the current timetable and applicable reservation information before travelling.

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to Ploubalay, your planned hiking days, Friday morning or seasonal workshop visits may all play a part in choosing your travel dates. Plan around the activities you actually want to do, and check time-sensitive details before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Denoual, Quessoy, Hénansal, Moustéru, Mégrit, Ploeuc-Sur-Lié, Plémet, Plouguiel

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