Roudouallec: Chapels and Menhirs at the Foot of the Montagnes Noires

Roudouallec lies at the foot of the Montagnes Noires and is considered the last stop in Morbihan before Finistère. This regional setting meets a place whose distinctive features are reflected in individual buildings and landscape elements: sacred sites, megaliths, fountains and a remarkable yew tree. If you are looking for a hotel in Roudouallec, exploring these highlights will help you understand the character of the destination beyond simply finding a place to stay.

Natural and sacred landmarks

The approximately 500-year-old yew tree in Roudouallec is considered a “remarkable tree of Morbihan”. At Notre-Dame de Lorette, a stone slab sits inside the hollow trunk of a yew tree. It serves as a seat for meditation and offerings. Here, the tree and its specific use are at the heart of the site.

The Chapelle Saint-Michel overlooks the village of Le Moustoir and was built in 1877. The furnishings inside date back further: the 17th-century high altar features decorative motifs from the choir screen at Saint Maudé in Guiscriff; two polychrome wooden statues also date from this period. A 15th-century Madonna and Child is the region’s only statue made of sandstone. The depiction of Saint Michael vanquishing the dragon dates from the 16th century; Michael is the patron saint of the building. The construction date and the dates of the furnishings offer different historical perspectives on the chapel.

The church of Notre-Dame de Lorette also features an architectural detail: its bell tower dates from 1772 and is topped by two storeys with lantern cupolas. Its tiered design makes a different impression from the furnishings of the Chapelle Saint-Michel.

Megaliths and medieval traces

The Guernangoué menhir was part of a stone row that was destroyed in 1967; like the Petit Moustoir menhir, it dates from the Late Neolithic. Three slate blocks remain at the megalithic site, but only one is still standing. This menhir is more than four metres high. One of the fallen blocks bears an engraving featuring a shield motif and a P motif. This makes it possible to distinguish between the date of the stone row and the blocks that remain today.

Castel Vouden belongs to a different era: the medieval enclosure has a broad earthwork rampart that served as a fortification. Unlike the standing menhir, the focus here is on the form of an enclosed structure.

Fountains and finding your way around

The Fontaine Saint-Venec Kéréon is located in a private pasture enclosed by an electric fence. It is approximately one metre high and about 50 metres south of the calvary. Please respect the enclosure and the electric fence.

Below the Chapelle Saint-Michel are the Fontaine Saint-Michel and its stream; to this day, they mark the boundary between Roudouallec and Gourin. The Fontaine Saint-Michel should not be confused with the Fontaine Saint-Venec Kéréon: one is associated with the boundary between Roudouallec and Gourin, while the other is in the private pasture south of the calvary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Baden-Mériadec, Quéven, Guidel, Belz, Noyal-Pontivy, Saint-Gildas-De-Rhuys, Plescop, Noyalo

For the wider travel overview: Morbihan.