Dirinon: Culture, Church and Nature

Dirinon brings together church architecture, regional traditions and nature experiences. For planning your trip, you can choose from a range of attractions: Sainte-Nonne, the Pardon of Saint Divy, the Musée Ti Gwechall and a trail in the forest of Coat-Mez. The area also features Iron Age remains and a landscape of rivers, the roadstead, a pond, forests, meadows and valleys. You can give different weight to cultural attractions and nature experiences.

Sainte-Nonne: Architectural Features and Dates

The church of Sainte-Nonne has an irregularly laid-out nave, a broad transept and a three-sided choir. Its construction dates from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The nave, transept and choir give the building a clearly articulated form; its dating spans several centuries.

The south porch features stone statues of the twelve apostles; the porch dates from 1618. The bell tower is of the Léonard type, has two bell chambers and two galleries, and bears the dates 1588 and 1593. This brings together a dated entrance area and a tower with its own architectural style and features as distinct architectural details.

Pardon and Museum

The traditional Pardon of Saint Divy includes a procession featuring the cross, banners, Saint Divy and Sainte Nonne, as well as traditional costumes. At one edition of the Pardon, the blessing of the water was followed by a Mass in the chapel of Saint Divy. The Pardon is a recurring tradition; check the date in advance for the year of your trip.

The Musée Ti Gwechall is devoted to the costumes and traditions of the Dirinon municipality. Visitors can see a reconstructed Breton interior with a box bed, a dresser and historic furniture. An annual temporary exhibition is held in the adjoining barn, and its subject may vary. The museum is open only in summer; outside the season, visits are possible by prior reservation. Check these conditions before your visit.

Iron Age Remains

Two Iron Age steles are located behind Dirinon town hall and in Kervern Mindu. They bear witness to burial practices from the Iron Age, around 700 BC. The park of Créac’h ar Roual contains rectangular fortified structures known as “camp romain.” These historic remains reflect different periods: the burial practices date to the Iron Age, while Sainte-Nonne is a building whose construction spans the 16th to 18th centuries.

Landscape, Walks and Trails

The surroundings of Dirinon are shaped by the Élorn River, the Rade de Brest, the Étang du Roual, and numerous forests, meadows and valleys, making the area suitable for walks in nature. The Fun Park Accrobranche de Dirinon in the forest of Coat-Mez offers a different focus: across five hectares, it has 15 courses among oaks, maritime pines and beeches. The activities include 50 zip lines; the longest is 150 metres. When planning your visit, you can choose between walks in the countryside and the courses on offer.

Rail Connection

Dirinon railway station opened in 1867 and is served by TER trains connecting Quimper with Landerneau and Brest. Check the timetable and train connections for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Plonévez-Du-Faou, Ploumoguer, Plougar, Scaër, Plogoff, Carhaix-Plouguer, Plourin, Plonéis

For the overview of the wider region: Finistère.