Discover Plourin: churches and historic sites

When you choose Plourin as your destination, you’ll encounter historic sites with different points of interest: a church with a reliquary from the early 16th century, chapels with varied histories of use, and the Pillars of Justice. Access also varies from place to place. Visits to the Saint-Roch Chapel are rare and only possible during certain events; at the Manoir de Kerenneur, visits are available by arrangement, among other options.

Church and chapels: dates and different histories

The present-day Saint-Budoc Church was consecrated on 20 September 1894. It houses a repoussé silver reliquary of Saint Budoc dating from the early 16th century. The consecration of the church and the age of the reliquary therefore point to two different periods: the present-day church was consecrated in the late 19th century, while the religious artwork is much older. If you’re interested in historical details, it’s worth keeping these two facts separate rather than assigning the church and reliquary to the same period.

Above the entrance to the Sainte-Anne Chapel is the year 1669. Part of the chapel served as an ossuary until around 1860. The date and the former use tell different stories: the number above the entrance points to a particular year, while the reference to the ossuary describes a function that ended later. The chapel thus offers a different historical perspective for your visit than Saint-Budoc Church and its older reliquary.

The Saint-Roch Chapel was built in 1649, after a severe plague epidemic struck the entire region from 1642 to 1647. The building’s history is therefore also connected to this regional epidemic. However, there is a significant restriction on visits: for safety reasons, the chapel is open to the public only very rarely; visits are possible only during certain events. Check the current programme before planning your trip around a visit.

The Pillars of Justice: original location and directions

The original Pillars of Justice were erected in 1561 and extended in the early 17th century. The present-day reconstruction was built in 1977, about 400 metres west of the original site. The original monument and its present-day location are therefore not the same. When learning about the pillars, this distinction helps you place the dates and location correctly: 1561 and the early 17th century refer to the original pillars, while 1977 refers to the reconstruction.

Access is via the D68 from St-Renan to Argenton. After the Lanrivoaré roundabout, 2.5 kilometres later, turn right onto a small country road opposite the road to Kergroadez Castle. Discreet signs point to the Pillars of Justice. The monument is a further 500 metres away on the left-hand side of the road. A large site offers parking and shaded picnic areas. As signage and facilities may need to be checked on site, it’s a good idea to verify them again before your visit.

Manoir de Kerenneur and visiting arrangements

The Manoir de Kerenneur stands halfway up a granite ridge between two streams. This setting describes the estate in relation to the landscape: it is neither on the crest nor in the valley, but on the slope of the granite ridge. Visits may be possible during concerts and singing events held there, as well as by arrangement. If you’d like to include the manor in your travel plans, check the visiting arrangements in advance.

When choosing what to visit in Plourin, there is a practical difference between the sites: directions are provided for the Pillars of Justice, while visits to the manor are linked to events or require an enquiry. Access to Saint-Roch is even more restricted and limited to certain events. You can consider the historical details about the church and chapels separately, according to their respective dates and uses.

Discover more destinations: Plomodiern, Ouessant, Edern, Poullan-Sur-Mer, Saint-Thégonnec, Landévennec, Le Folgoet, Taule.

For the broader travel overview: Finistere.