Rohan: Churches, Market and Canal

Rohan brings together several distinct themes for a stay: churches and chapels with different historical layers, a historic market hall, and the canal, now used by cyclists and recreational boaters. The following stops will help you decide whether to focus on heritage, the market or activities on the water.

Churches, Chapels and Architectural History

The parish church dedicated to Saint Gobrien was moved and rebuilt in 1897. The Church of Saint-Samson was built in 1904 on the foundations of a 15th-century parish church. The octagonal baptismal font dates from this earlier period. A 16th-century choir window depicts the Crucifixion and bears the coats of arms of Brittany, the de Rohan family, and the Le Moyne de Talhouët, Bréhaut and Clisson d’Arradon families. These two churches reveal distinct periods of construction and furnishing.

Rohan’s chapels also tell of different stages in the town’s history. Jean II de Rohan built Notre-Dame de Bonne-Encontre to replace the chapel of the first castle, dating from 1104. It has been listed as a Monument historique since 1922. The Chapel of Saint-Martin was built in 1127 by monks from Marmoutier Abbey, at the initiative of Alain de Rohan, next to his new castle. The dates and builders give each chapel its own historical context.

Market Hall and Regional Produce

The Halle aux grains dates from the last quarter of the 17th century and is one of the five last surviving examples of historic timber market halls in historic Brittany. A weekly market selling regional produce is held there every Sunday morning. The hall thus brings together a historic building and a regular market day; Sunday morning is the specific time to plan for a market visit.

The selection at Rohan’s producers’ market includes, among other things, meat and charcuterie, fish, saucissons, couscous, farm produce, crêpes, goat’s cheese and oysters. It ranges from savoury foods to cheese and seafood. If local produce is one of your travel interests, this variety offers another useful pointer when planning your stay.

Canal History and Cycling Stage

Several places still bear witness to the canal’s former trade, including Quai Notre-Dame, the grain store at Pont d’Oust and the quays and warehouses of Saint-Samson. In Rohan, commercial shipping has given way to green tourism and tourism based on changing locations. Every year, the canal attracts numerous cyclists and recreational boaters.

The Pontivy–Rohan cycling stage covers 25 kilometres and includes a sequence of 54 locks. Along the stage, you can walk or cycle on the towpath and take breaks to picnic and relax. The distance and number of locks describe the scale of this stage; walking and cycling are the activities mentioned for spending time on the towpath.

You can choose between different focuses for your trip: the architectural history of the churches and chapels, the Sunday morning weekly market, or the cycling stage along the canal. Plan your stay according to whether you are more interested in historic buildings, regional produce, or cycling and walking along the towpath.

Discover more destinations: La Trinité-Porhoët, Cléguer, Séné, Landaul, Mohon, Gestel, Treffléan, Pontivy

For the regional travel overview: Morbihan.