Saint-Renan: Discover tin-mining history and lakes

Saint-Renan is a medieval town and was once a European tin capital. There are three different ways to plan your stay: the short town history trail, the traces of tin mining around the lakes, and a longer cycling tour.

Explore the town’s history on foot

The Parcours de ville is 2 km long and takes about 45 minutes. Thirteen enamelled lava stone panels cover the history of Saint-Renan—from the legend of Saint Ronan to the memory of the Sénéchaussée. The trail combines a manageable distance with a broad sweep of history. Its approximate duration can help you fit this activity in alongside visits to other local attractions.

The Musée du Ponant is in the centre of Saint-Renan, at 16 Rue Saint-Mathieu, above Place du Vieux Marché. The building dates from 1782; the corresponding year is carved above the entrance. An exhibition at the museum recounts the 15 years of COMIREN, which made Saint-Renan a tin capital. A Gallic stele stands at the entrance.

The Jardin de la Coulée Verte is open to walkers and provides a safe, fully accessible pedestrian link between car parks, the media library and services in the town centre. Exhibitions are also held there. Past cultural events at the garden have included, for example, the tenth edition of the Festival médiéval de Saint Renan, an exhibition on Breton games, and an outdoor exhibition by sculptor Mich Mao.

Lakes and traces of tin mining

After the tin deposit was exhausted, seven lakes remained in Saint-Renan. The banks of Lac de Ty Colo and Lac de la Comiren, in the centre, have been laid out for walkers. Cable wakeboarding takes place at Lac de Ty Colo: a cable pulls the wakeboard. The lake’s waters were the first in Brittany to welcome this sport. The lakes offer both opportunities for walks and a chance to learn about a specific water sport.

On the Circuit des lacs, you can see a fountain, the Grand Lavoir and the lakes. The route passes through a large part of the valley that the Compagnie minière de Saint-Renan mined for tin between 1960 and 1975. You can park for this route at the car park at Lac de Ty-Colo, 29290 Saint-Renan, near the athletics stadium.

The Grand Lavoir consists of two springs and seven basins: four washing basins and three rinsing basins. From the town centre, you can reach it via Rue Saint-Yves. The accessible entrance for people with reduced mobility is on the left. The Circuit des lacs brings the history of the area’s industrial landscape to life through a specific structure and its layout.

Trails, cycling and the market

Official walking and cycling trails pass through Saint-Renan. The technical services of Pays d'Iroise Communauté maintain and mark these trails. One cycling option described in detail is the Circuit vélo Al Lenn (boucle 2): this difficult route passes through Saint-Renan, covers 18.5 km and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. By comparison, the Parcours de ville is a shorter town history trail, taking about 45 minutes and covering 2 km. These details help distinguish the two routes in terms of time and distance.

A market is held in the town centre every Saturday throughout the year, from 8 am to 1 pm. Check the date before your visit if you plan to include the market in your day. Together with the Parcours de ville, the waterside trails and the signposted cycling routes, this gives you several ways to include the town’s history and landscape in your stay.

Discover more destinations: Plouenan, Cléden-Poher, Châteaulin, Pouldreuzic, Kerlaz, Lannéanou, Bourg-Blanc, Saint-Jean-Du-Doigt

For the main travel overview: Finistere.