Dourdain: Churches, château history and nature

Dourdain is located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany. For geographical context, Rennes is 36 kilometres away, Fougères 30 kilometres and Vitré 20 kilometres. These distances give you an overview of the location without specifying a particular travel time. The town centre is served by the BreizhGo network; the stop is at Place de l’Église. As transport information can change, check the current timetable before travelling.

Churches and chapels in Dourdain

The parish dedicated to Saint Peter is documented as far back as the 12th century. Its church, Saint-Pierre, was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. A portal dating from the late 15th or early 16th century bears the coat of arms of the Montbourcher family. The architecture also includes remnants of the sacristy, which was attached to the choir.

The windows also provide their own historical timeframe: eleven stained-glass windows in the church were created between 1882 and 1884 in the Lecomte et Collin workshops in Rennes, during the tenure of the rector, M. Baudais. This makes it possible to distinguish several phases of construction and furnishing at Saint-Pierre, rather than reducing the church to a single date of origin.

The chapel at Pâtis de la Giolais was built in October 1743 and blessed by M. Fontaine on 29 October; at the time, it was named Notre-Dame de Toutes-Aides. Earlier, on 12 May 1743, parishioners had approved the construction planned by M. Fontaine as a station for processions. They also undertook to fund its upkeep from the church fabric’s funds. The approval therefore describes the plan and intended function, while construction took place later that same year.

The chapel of Notre-Dame des Sept-Douleurs is the former chapel at Pâtis de la Giolais. The small building has a flat-ended choir and a roof turret, and was restored in the 19th century. During this restoration, openings were among the features given brick surrounds. The parishioners maintain the chapel. Taken together, the historical dedications, architectural changes and recorded use in processions offer a nuanced insight into the town’s religious history.

The gatehouse of Château du Plessis-Pillet

Château du Plessis-Pillet was the residence of the lords of Châteaubourg from the 15th century. The château was destroyed in the 20th century; only the gatehouse remains. A covered passage leads to the estate courtyard. The main residence is privately owned.

The gatehouse stands out for its sandstone façade with slate bands, medallions and gables. Above the portal is a niche flanked by two Ionic pilasters. The cornice, upper-floor windows, dormer with two cherubs and the à l’impériale roof are considered exceptional for this type of building. The description of the gatehouse thus offers a distinct architectural focus alongside Dourdain’s church history.

The Forêt de Liffré in the surrounding region

The Forêt de Liffré is listed as a type 2 ZNIEFF and also extends across the municipality of Dourdain. It is therefore part of the wider natural context of the area. A natural-area survey dated 12 June 2024 describes the forest as predominantly oak and beech woodland; some plots are planted with conifers, and its plant diversity is rated as significant. The survey also notes a remarkable diversity of bats in the forest, including Nyctalus leisleri. The birdlife of the Forêt de Liffré is also diverse.

Several themes come together in Dourdain: the history of the parish and its chapels, the surviving architecture of the gatehouse and the larger forest area of the Forêt de Liffré. The distances to Rennes, Fougères and Vitré complement these local and regional points of reference as you choose where to stay.

Discover more destinations: Chantepie, Saint-Georges-De-Gréhaigne, Servon-Sur-Vilaine, Le Tronchet, Saint-Jouan-Des-Guérets, La Chapelle-Chaussée, Eancé, Mouazé.

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