Dompierre-du-Chemin: Church, Saut-Roland and trails

For a stay in Dompierre-du-Chemin, two distinct points of interest stand out: the building history in the town centre, and the landscape and trails around Saut-Roland. There is also a climbing area and a park in the centre. If you are looking for a hotel, you can decide in advance whether to focus on heritage, walking or different types of trails.

Saint-Pierre Church and building history

The parish church of Saint-Pierre features architectural and decorative elements from several centuries. The oldest elements of the choir are 12th-century buttresses; the church windows date from the 14th century. Small altars on either side of the chancel arch bear the year 1699. The high altar also appears to date from the 17th century; its altarpiece bears the coat of arms of the Rennes chapter at the top.

The town centre also reflects different building periods: it preserves a few older remains as well as a significant architectural heritage from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Château de Kodéan is also among the notable elements of Dompierre-du-Chemin's heritage. Together with the church's details, this creates a broad timeline—from the choir's oldest elements to the more recent architecture in the town centre.

Saut-Roland: landscape, rock and legend

The Saut-Roland area brings together woodland, wet meadows, a stream and cliffs up to 173 metres high. It can be reached from the centre of Dompierre-du-Chemin. These landscape features give the area more than a single viewpoint: woodland, meadows, water and rock all contribute to its character.

The rocks in the area are made of quartzite. 150 years ago, this stone was quarried for its quality and used to build and maintain roads. The landscape therefore also has a history of resource use. The legend of Saut-Roland includes the spring “la pierre dégouttante”, covered by a rock. It symbolises the “belle inconsolable”.

The Rochers du Saut-Roland are a quartzite climbing area. Walking, climbing and heritage sites offer different options for planning your trip; which ones you prioritise depends on how you want to shape your stay.

Walking trails and greenways

The Circuit du Saut-Roland is a walking trail in Dompierre-du-Chemin that is approximately 5.9 kilometres long. The average walking time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check the route details before setting off. The Circuit du Chevalier Roland connects Dompierre and Luitré; this walking trail is classified as easy and is 11 kilometres long. By comparison, the Chevalier-Roland circuit is longer, while an average walking time is also provided for the Saut-Roland circuit. You can compare the trails by their length and the planning information given for each.

The greenway between Fougères and Vitré passes through Dompierre-du-Chemin. The former railway line from Vitré to Pontorson has been revived as the La Régalante greenway. These two routes can be considered separately when planning: one greenway passes through the town, while the other route is defined by its former use as a railway line.

A park in the centre

Parc de la Belle Aude is in the centre of Dompierre and has a pump track, an ESCALADO play area and picnic areas. The park thus complements the historical and landscape themes with opportunities for exercise, play and picnicking. When planning your trip, you can consider a visit to the park as a separate focus alongside the church, heritage and trails.

Discover more destinations: Romillé, Muel, Ercé-près-Liffré, Saint-Lunaire, Gosné, Chavagne, Noyal-Sous-Bazouges, Treffendel.

For the broader travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.