Josselin: Château, Basilica and Canal de Nantes à Brest

Josselin brings together several distinct themes: the château and its gardens, medieval and ecclesiastical architecture, and the Canal de Nantes à Brest. When choosing a destination, it helps to think ahead about whether you are particularly interested in historic buildings, architectural details, or a stay by the water. The city’s sights offer concrete ways to explore these interests.

Château and gardens

The Château de Josselin is a historic estate open to visitors. Alongside its medieval remains, it has furnished interiors that were restored in the late 19th century. Three defensive towers also define the château’s exterior: they rise above the Canal de Nantes à Brest. This establishes a clear connection between the building and the canal, making the site equally interesting to travelers drawn to medieval architecture and the history of waterways.

The estate includes a landscape garden of more than three hectares. Its features showcase different garden designs: a rose garden with 40 varieties, a French garden, and an English park crossed by a stream. Visitors who also take in the gardens during their visit to the estate will find more than just one type of garden. The Château’s former stables also house the Musée de Poupées et de Jouets. The museum is therefore another place explicitly associated with the château.

Basilica and city history

The Basilica of Notre-Dame du Roncier is a church in the Flamboyant Gothic style. Its features include the recumbent effigies of Olivier de Clisson and his wife, stained-glass windows, and large organs. The organs were restored in 1990 and refurbished in the winter of 2010/2011. Each of these different elements offers its own way into the basilica’s history and design: from its architecture and tomb effigies to its windows and organs. Historically, the basilica developed into a pilgrimage site for the sick seeking healing.

You can climb the bell tower by more than a hundred steps, where you’ll enjoy a view of the medieval town of Josselin. Since access conditions may vary, check before your visit whether the climb is possible. This makes the tower a concrete option for travelers who would like to include views of the historic town, as well as its buildings, in their plans.

Sainte-Croix and historic architectural styles

The Sainte-Croix district is as old as Josselin Castle. Its notable architectural features include half-timbered houses. The chapel of the former Sainte-Croix Priory dates from the 11th and 13th centuries. The house dating from 1538 offers a different architectural accent: it has caryatids and carved beams depicting hunting scenes. The district thus encompasses both half-timbering and striking carved details, as well as buildings from different centuries.

These places offer travelers interested in historic architecture several concrete subjects to explore: the age of the district in relation to the château, the period when the chapel was built, and the design of the house dating from 1538. The hunting scenes on the beams and the caryatids are distinctive details of this house; they should not be confused with the district’s half-timbered examples. Together with the basilica and château, they showcase a range of historic features in Josselin.

Along the Canal de Nantes à Brest

The towpath beside the Canal de Nantes à Brest near Josselin is suitable for walks by the water. The adjacent green spaces have picnic tables and deck chairs. This offers a different focus from visiting historic buildings: here, the canal and the use of the surrounding open spaces take center stage. The Château’s defensive towers rise above the same canal, so these places offer both architectural and water-related points of interest.

Ti War An Dour rents electric boats for trips along the canal sections on either side of the Josselin lock. Seasonal operations may vary; check whether rentals are available for your dates. This lets you choose between a walk by the water and a trip in an electric boat based on what is actually on offer, while the château, basilica, and Sainte-Croix provide other historic points of interest in the city.

For the broader travel overview: Morbihan.