Kernascléden: Notre-Dame, Bats and Pardon

Kernascléden offers several possible focuses for a stay: the history of Notre-Dame, a museum about bats, a cycling circuit and an annual Pardon. If you are looking for hotels in Kernascléden, these themes can help you shape your trip around the places and activities that interest you.

Notre-Dame: Building History and Art

The Église Notre-Dame in Kernascléden is a work of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1420 and was completed in 1464. Flamboyant Gothic refers to a late Gothic style whose name evokes flame-like forms. An inscription in the Notre-Dame chapel also records two precise dates: Yves de Pontsal, Bishop of Vannes, consecrated it on September 2, 1453; in 1464, Pierre and J. Le Bail vaulted it. This places the consecration and the later vaulting as distinct stages in the building's history.

The ensemble of wall paintings in Notre-Dame church also offers a concrete glimpse of religious imagery. It depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and the childhood of Christ. When visiting the church, you can therefore focus not only on when it was built, but also on the stories told in the paintings.

Bats and a Self-Guided Puzzle

The Maison de la Chauve-Souris is a 400 m² museum with sensory and interactive modules. Visitors can observe a colony of greater horseshoe bats there using an infrared camera. The attic treasure hunt adds an activity of its own to the presentation. Observation, interactive interpretation and play offer different ways to explore the subject of bats. As visitor arrangements can change, check the latest information in advance if you plan to use the camera or take part in the treasure hunt.

Another self-guided activity is the “The Secret of the Ymagier” game box. It can be picked up at the tourist office and used to solve a mystery in the medieval world of the Imagiers. Unlike a visit with a set itinerary, you progress through this story on your own. The two activities therefore have different emphases: one centers on the bat exhibit, while the other is a medieval-themed investigation.

Pardon and Cycling Circuit

The Pardon of Notre-Dame de Kernascléden takes place every year on August 15. Some worshippers wear traditional Breton attire, and a singing procession passes through the village. If you want to plan your stay around this date, check the information for the relevant event when planning your trip.

For cyclists, the Berné–Saint-Caradec-Trégomel–Kernascléden Circuit is another option: it is a challenging 33-kilometer loop. Its length, circular route and difficulty level give you specific points to consider when fitting the ride into your travel plans. It is clearly different from the visits and self-guided activities in the village.

Brewery and Driving Directions

The Microbrasserie l'Esk'Ale in Kernascléden has a shop and offers tours of its production site, where you can learn how beer is made. Local and organic grains are used. If you plan a brewery visit, check the latest visitor information beforehand, as operating arrangements may change.

If you want to follow the river by car, take the D782 towards Lignol to Kernascléden, drive through the village and turn left at the hamlet of Kerchopine to follow the Vallée du Scorff. As road conditions and signs can change, check the route before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Guéhenno, Plumelec, Groix, Saint-Jean-Brévelay, Réminiac, Caden, La Vraie-Croix, Baden-Mériadec.

For the broader travel overview: Morbihan.