Discover Montreuil-sur-Ille

Montreuil-sur-Ille brings together several themes that can be explored independently: the town’s history, the heritage of the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance, waterside paths and a monumental mural. When planning your trip, you can arrange these points of interest according to your own interests—for example, around architecture and local history, or the walking and cycling routes described here.

Church, railway station and local history

Montreuil-sur-Ille was founded in the 12th century. The present-day Church of Saint-Pierre-es-Liens was built much later: architect Arthur Regnault constructed it between 1896 and 1910. The town’s founding and the construction of its present-day church therefore mark two distinct periods in its history. Those interested in architecture will find a specific point of interest here in Regnault’s work.

The railway station is also an important historical landmark. It was inaugurated on 27 June 1864, together with the Rennes–Saint-Malo line. Traces of Montreuil-sur-Ille’s industrial history have also been preserved around the station. They include industrial buildings, workers’ housing and manor houses. The different building types bring the industrial character of this area to life, while the town’s history extends beyond any one period.

The Canal d’Ille-et-Rance and its routes

The Canal d’Ille-et-Rance was built between 1804 and 1832. This period refers to the canal as a whole. Its built heritage includes 260 structures, among them 48 locks. In Montreuil-sur-Ille is the lock called “Écluse, l’Ille”. Together, the broader figures and this local example offer two different perspectives on the canal: its extensive construction history and a specific feature in the town.

There are also walking and cycling routes along the water. The Sentier de l’Ille follows the canal bank for part of its length and leaves the bank at the Cours Gallais lock. Along the way, it crosses the Ille via a footbridge. Check local path conditions before setting out. The Vélo Promenade® No. 3 is another way to explore the canal area: over a distance of 2 kilometres, it follows the voie verte along the canal. Between Montreuil-sur-Ille and Feins, it also follows the Saint-Pern–Antrain cycle route (VD4). Checking local path conditions is recommended for this route too.

The route information therefore differs by mode of travel and distance: for the Sentier de l’Ille, the sections along the bank, the Cours Gallais lock and the footbridge are key landmarks. For the Vélo Promenade® No. 3, the details are the 2 kilometres along the voie verte and the section of the VD4 between the two towns. These details can help you find the route information best suited to your own plans.

Floraison at the Chanclin lock keeper’s house

Floraison adds a contemporary work of art to the area: Makiko Furuichi’s monumental mural is located in the storage hangar of the Chanclin lock keeper’s house in Montreuil-sur-Ille. If you are interested in mural art, Floraison offers a distinct point of interest alongside the church, railway station and locks.

Two starting points are listed for the walk to Floraison, with different travel times: it takes 10 minutes from the Langager car park and 30 minutes from Montreuil-sur-Ille railway station. Comparing these times can help you choose a starting point for your plans; no route distance is provided. The church, traces of industrial history, the lock and the mural each appeal to different interests. You can therefore shape your stay in Montreuil-sur-Ille around the specific things that interest you most.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Brice-En-Coglès, Saint-Coulomb, La Fresnais, Luitré, Le Tiercent, Pléchâtel, Châteaugiron, Bruc-Sur-Aff

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