Discover Pleyben

When looking for a hotel in Pleyben, you can plan your trip around its historic buildings and variety of routes. The parish close, individual chapels and crosses each offer their own architectural highlights. There is also a discovery trail, a hike, cycling tours along the canal and a visit centered around chocolate. This makes it possible to get to know Pleyben through both its architectural history and specific activities.

The parish close and Saint-Germain Church

Pleyben’s parish close was built between the 15th and 17th centuries. The complex includes a church with a sacristy, a porch, an ossuary, a calvary and an enclosing wall. The parish close is protected as a historic monument and is now one of the “7 monumental calvaries of Brittany.”

Saint-Germain Church was built in 1530 and is an example of 16th-century Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Two timeframes therefore sit side by side: the construction of the parish close as a whole, which spanned several centuries, and the specific year the church was built. If you are interested in the history of religious buildings, the complex offers more than a single construction date.

Chapels, stained glass and crosses

The chapels in Pleyben also differ in their architectural forms and surviving details. The oldest parts of the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Lannélec date from 1490. The main window preserves remnants of older stained glass, including five heraldic depictions. Here, a specific date is paired with images passed down through the ages.

The Chapelle de la Trinité in Lanridec has a Latin-cross floor plan and a single-nave interior. The chapel also contains a depiction of the Holy Trinity made of kersantite. The floor plan, spatial layout and material of the artwork offer different ways to explore the architecture and furnishings.

Flamboyant tracery can be seen in the windows of the Chapelle Saint-Laurent in Rozalghen. The chapel also has a fountain topped by a round arch, with a modern statue. The Restavidan cross probably dates from the 14th or 15th century. Croaz Nu Cross is one of the works in Pleyben considered architecturally and historically significant by the regional heritage conservation authorities.

Discovery trail, hike and cycling tour

The “Chemin faisant” discovery trail takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check before your trip whether the trail is available. The hike from Pont-Coblant is approximately 8 kilometers long. These details help with different aspects of planning: an approximate duration is given for the trail, and an approximate distance for the hike.

The towpath along the Nantes-Brest Canal is suitable for cycling tours. Cycling trips can take anywhere from half a day to several days. This gives you the option of longer cycling timeframes in addition to the discovery trail and hike. Pleyben is also part of the Armorique Regional Natural Park; this adds the commune’s place within the natural park to the buildings and routes described above.

A visit to Maison Chatillon

Another way to get to know Pleyben is to visit Maison Chatillon’s chocolate workshop. You can watch, learn and taste. The workshop also demonstrates how Breton granite, fine galettes and palets are made. Alongside the historic buildings, this offers a hands-on insight into the local visitor experience. Booking and access details may vary, so check the specifics before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Port-Launay, Ploéven, Irvillac, Confort-Meilars, Pencran, Plouvien, Lanhouarneau, Ile-De-Sein.

For the regional travel overview: Finistere.