Silfiac: Moorlands, Walking Routes and Heritage

Silfiac combines wetlands and marked trails with a chapel, a church, a mill and a menhir. If you are looking for a hotel in Silfiac, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: would you like to go hiking or mountain biking, are you interested in moorlands and wetlands, or are historic buildings and stone monuments your main interest? You can organise nature trails and cultural sites for your stay according to different interests.

Moorlands and Trails Through Wetlands

The Tourbière de Silfiac-Porh Clud is a type 1 continental ZNIEFF site and includes the municipality of Silfiac. The nationally protected plant species Drosera intermedia and Drosera rotundifolia are found there. The Porhz Klud peat bog is recognised by the European Natura 2000 network; its restoration began in 2008. The plant species found there and the bog’s restoration history thus represent distinct nature-related themes.

The Circuit des étangs du Taulo passes through a damp valley characterised by ponds and numerous wetlands. The GR Lorient-Pontivy long-distance trail runs near the Porhz Klud peat bog. This means that a damp valley along a route and a peat bog near a long-distance trail offer two distinct landscape settings.

Hiking, Cycling and Planning Your Visit

The Circuit des Crêtes du Squel starts in Silfiac and is 15 kilometres long. It is intended for hiking and mountain biking; its marked trail runs along the Quénécan forest. There is a clear seasonal restriction to bear in mind: the route is open from 1 March to 30 September and closed outside this period due to the hunting season. If you would like to include this trail in your trip, plan your visit within this period.

The Circuit de Pont Samoël is of moderate difficulty and 11 kilometres long; the walking time is about three hours. It can be used for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking. There are two starting points to choose from: Étang de Pont Samoël and the car park at the multi-purpose hall in the centre of Silfiac. At 15 rather than 11 kilometres, the Circuit des Crêtes is longer; both routes allow mountain biking, while Pont Samoël also includes horse riding. As details of the Circuit de Pont Samoël may change, check them before setting out.

Chapels, a Mill and Stone Monuments

The Église Saint-Pierre is dedicated to Saint Peter and dates from the 18th century. The south gable of the Chapelle Saint-Laurent has been listed as a Monument historique since 15 June 1925. The Saint-Nodez spring, set into the ground, is located at the entrance to the chapel’s north transept. Its water is traditionally believed to relieve foot ailments.

The Pardon de Saint-Laurent is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in August and is associated with the chapel’s historic fairs. If the festival is relevant to your trip, check the dates for the year you plan to visit.

The Quenouille du Diable is a 5.50-metre-high menhir at the hamlet of Le Moustoir in Silfiac, on the border with the municipality of Lescouët-Gouarec. It is considered one of the most remarkable menhirs in central Brittany. In the village of Pont Samoël stands a traditional mill made up of three buildings. Pike, trout, tench and roach are found in Étang de Pont Samoël.

Discover more destinations: Baden-Mériadec, Quistinic, Guégon, Sulniac, Rieux, Guidel-Plages, Le Faouët, Baud

For the regional travel overview: Morbihan.