Saint-Maden: Historic Buildings and Routes

In Saint-Maden, sights range from Romanesque architectural features and manor houses to a Gallo-Roman trace of an ancient route, a memorial site and paths along the old Rance. You can shape your stay around either the architectural heritage or specific outdoor activities.

Building History Across Several Periods

The Church of Saint-Jean reveals several phases of construction. Its oldest parts date from the Romanesque period; essentially, the original structure, with a single-nave body and a smaller, flat-ended choir, has been preserved. The church was modified in the mid-15th century. Another phase of construction followed in the 18th century: the northern chapel was raised and the southern chapel was built. The Romanesque core and later changes thus stand side by side as distinct stages in the building’s history.

At the Manoir de La Motte, the focus is on materials and design. The residence on the banks of the Rance dates from the 16th and 17th centuries and was built entirely of shell limestone. Its features include dormers with curved gables and Renaissance-inspired decoration with caryatids and triglyphs. The Manoir de La Bigotais offers a different emphasis: it is a large manor house dating from the 17th century, with a decorative style based on Renaissance models. Comparing the two, at La Motte, shell limestone and individual architectural features draw attention to materials and form; at La Bigotais, the focus is on its size and Renaissance models.

Historic Traces and Memorial Sites

Not all historic traces are churches or manor houses. At the Moulin des Rosays, the millrace still features impressive granite masonry made of large blocks. The site of the former mill wheel’s axle is also still visible. In La Réhaudais, the course of an old road known as the Chemin des Romains bears witness to a settlement and a route dating from Gallo-Roman times. Together, these places offer different perspectives on the past: from architectural details to a trace of a route that points to earlier settlement.

The Mémorial des Champs Pillais commemorates the liberation struggle that took place in Saint-Maden on 1 and 2 August 1944. The memorial is located at a crossroads near the hamlet of La Sècherie. Alongside the older building and settlement history, the town’s history thus also includes the memory of a specific event from the 20th century.

Walking Routes and Planning Your Time

The Les virées madennaises route starts at the Site de la Gravelle and follows the banks of the old Rance. Along the way, you can see beautiful houses built from Pierre de jauge, characteristic of the Pays des Faluns. The site includes a pond and a natural leisure area; it also has a covered shelter with sanitary facilities. The route thus combines a connection to the landscape with a named starting point and specific facilities at the site.

Another walking option is La Grande Virée. The route is 12.85 kilometres long and takes an average of three to three and a half hours. Its length and estimated duration give you a concrete basis for planning this route, without making any claims about its difficulty.

Donkey Walks in Different Formats

Fleur de Jour offers self-guided donkey walks lasting from two hours to a full day on the marked paths in the commune of Saint-Maden. Accompanied donkey walks are organised or available on request. Fleur de Jour also develops tours with guests lasting several hours or several days along the Rance, towards Dinan, Dinard or Rennes.

The options vary in duration and format: self-guided walks on marked local paths are available alongside tours developed together with guests along the Rance. If you are planning an accompanied walk, note that it is organised or available on request. The different durations can help you decide which format best suits your stay.

Discover more destinations: Trémorel, Plougrescant, Saint-James, Boqueho, Carnoët, Hillion, Perret, Belle-Isle-En-Terre.

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