Saint-Pern: Village Market, Churches and Trails

Saint-Pern combines historic buildings with several trails through the countryside. When planning your stay, it is worth considering both: the local sights tell the story of different eras, while the routes offer varying details about duration, distance and terrain. The town also has a regular organic market.

Market and Regional Products

An organic market is held at the Ferme du Pressoir every Saturday morning throughout the year, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The regular day and time give you a specific point of reference when planning your visit to Saint-Pern. The Ferme du Pressoir is also connected with a business that now operates under the name La Bouche qui Rit du Pressoir.

La Bouche qui Rit du Pressoir, formerly the Ferme du Pressoir, is an organic butcher and charcuterie as well as a farm shop in Saint-Pern. The business is located between Pays de Brocéliande and Bretagne Romantique. The market and shop complement the historic and countryside themes with a practical look at what the area has to offer.

Church, Chapel and Historic Buildings

The church of the Prieuré Saint-Pern preserves architectural features from different centuries. The north gable of the transept is thought to date from the 14th century; the west and south portals are attributed to the first half of the 16th century. This makes it possible to distinguish different historical periods in one building, rather than assigning it a single date of construction.

Another landmark is the priory founded in Saint-Pern by the Abbey of Saint-Nicolas d’Angers in 1050. At Tour Saint-Joseph, the complex includes a residential building from the 17th century, rebuilt over the remains of an earlier fortress. The chapel there was built in 1868; its crypt contains the tomb of Jeanne Jugan.

Château de Ligouyer also tells of earlier construction in the area: it was built in 1552 on the site of an older manor house. Further traces come into view along the countryside trails. The Circuit des châteaux leads to the ruins in the grounds of the 18th-century Château de Caradeuc. Here, the history of the buildings and the route can be considered as two aspects of the same itinerary.

Trails with Different Profiles

Route information helps you plan how much time to set aside. The Circuit des Châteaux is listed as taking about 2 hours and 45 minutes to walk. The Circuit des châteaux n°174 is a 10-kilometre circular route starting in Saint-Pern. It crosses the countryside, alternating between grassy paths and small roads. The Circuit des châteaux also leads to the ruins in the grounds of Château de Caradeuc.

The Chemin de la biodiversité N°18 takes less time: this easy walking route is 4 kilometres long and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Along the way, information panels describe the local fauna and flora. The route follows hedgerows, passes through a wooded section with a stream, and goes by farmland. Its distance, approximate duration and nature themes together give a clear picture of the trail.

The Circuit de la Petite Crête n°173 has a different focus when it comes to the surface: apart from the first few hundred metres on small roads, it runs entirely on trails. When comparing routes, you can take into account both the approximate time and the type of route described. Details vary from one trail to another and should not be taken as a single profile for all the trails in Saint-Pern.

The Washhouse as Another Stop Along the Way

The washhouse in Saint-Pern has a recently renovated shelter with a slate roof, supported by several wooden posts. In the middle is a basin fed by a small stream. The roof, posts and basin give the site a distinct architectural character, adding a small, tangible feature of the local landscape to the historic buildings and trail themes.

Whether you want to focus on architecture, regional products or a walk during your stay, Saint-Pern offers different points of interest. When choosing a hotel, you can use your planned visits and the listed trail distances and times as a guide.

Discover more destinations: Poligné, Saint-Domineuc, Epiniac, La Fresnais, Châteauneuf-D'ille-Et-Vilaine, Mont-Dol, Clayes, Lillemer.

Go to the broader travel guide: Ille-Et-Vilaine.