Plougras: Religious Buildings, Motte and Goariva

Plougras offers visitors two distinct highlights: historic religious buildings and activities at the Site panoramique de Goariva. The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry and the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre can be compared in terms of their architectural form, reconstruction and restoration. The Motte castrale de Beffou offers a different kind of historical trace, while at Goariva you can choose between a hike and a treasure hunt with specified route lengths. This lets you plan your stay around your interests and the time you have available.

Religious Buildings and Their History

The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry was rebuilt in the late 16th and early 17th centuries; restorations followed in 1787 and 1788. Its ground plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. It also has a single-nave layout and a flat-ended choir. These features describe different aspects of the building: the cross shape refers to the ground plan, while the nave and choir describe the layout of the interior. By decree of 10 April 1981, the chapel was listed as a historic monument. Its historical context thus includes its construction phases, later restorations and protected status.

The Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre has a different chronology: it was rebuilt from the late 15th to the early 16th century and restored in 1613. By decree of 22 March 1930, it was listed as a historic monument. In the eastern section, a polychrome-decorated beam depicts Death carrying the deceased in a wheelbarrow—the image is called Karrigell an Ankou. The portal also contains a 15th-century Pietà. At Saint-Pierre, therefore, periods of construction sit alongside two specific works of art, while the ground plan is described particularly clearly at Saint-Gonéry.

Motte castrale de Beffou

At the Motte castrale de Beffou, the focus is not on a church’s chronology but on the historical function of a motte-and-bailey castle. It dates to the 11th century and was the residence of the first lords of the Châtellenie de Beffou. Remains of the substructures and a well are still visible on its platform. This brings together the site’s dating, its role as a seat of lordship and its surviving structures. Access to the motte is free; check local conditions before visiting.

Hiking and a Treasure Hunt at Goariva

The Site panoramique de Goariva offers a scenic highlight. From the summit, at an altitude of 314 m, visitors can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of Trégor, Léon and Cornouaille. The circular trail is 3.5 km long and takes about an hour. The summit’s elevation and the panoramic view describe the viewpoint; the trail’s length and duration give an approximate timeframe for this hiking option.

Another option is the Chasse au trésor de la Vallée du Léguer – Sur la montagne de Goariva. Its route is 4 km long and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Compared directly with the circular trail, it is 0.5 km longer; the approximate duration is around 30 minutes longer. This lets you compare the two activities by route length and estimated time: a shorter hike or a longer treasure hunt.

The different route lengths and approximate durations provide a practical reference for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Briac-Sur-Mer, Languenan, Lanloup, Lanvallay, Tréfumel, Hénanbihen, Trelevern, Maël-Pestivien.

Go to the broader travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.