Taupont: Churches, Chapels and Paths by Lac au Duc

Taupont is five minutes north of Ploërmel. This is a guide; road conditions may affect travel time. For trip planning, you can explore the area through several specific themes: sacred architecture, paths by Lac au Duc, and a garden with medicinal aromatic plants. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Taupont, these interests can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Church and chapel: different historical periods

The church dedicated to Saint Golven features architecture from the 12th to the 17th century. Its remarkable Flamboyant Gothic portal dates from the 16th century. Two different time spans are therefore represented: the church’s architecture covers several centuries, while the portal is associated with a single century. For visitors interested in architectural history, this combination offers a clear point of interest without reducing the church to a single date.

The Chapelle St Mathurin et St Gildas de Quelneuc adds to this theme. It is considered probably the oldest chapel in the commune and dates from the 13th or 14th century. Its dating gives it a narrower time frame than the architectural span of Saint-Golven Church, while the claim that it is the oldest chapel remains qualified. Comparing the two buildings by period brings together a broad architectural time span and a possible early place among the commune’s chapels.

Walking trails and distances

The Circuit des chapelles (No. 19) starts at Taupont church square and leads to the Chapelle de Quelneuc. The walking route is 13 km long, with a stated walking time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. It therefore connects a clearly identified starting point with a named chapel as its destination, along with a specific time estimate. Check the current route before setting out, as changes or detours may affect the route and the time needed.

There are two other trails at Lac au Duc, with different lengths and themes. The Circuit des Hortensias is a 3 km lakeside walking route dedicated to hydrangeas. The planting and seasonal display may change. A 15 km walking trail also runs around the lake. In terms of length and theme, these offer a shorter walk dedicated to hydrangeas and a longer circuit around the lake. Lac au Duc covers 250 hectares and lies within Ploërmel, Taupont and Loyat.

A garden with aromatic plants

The Jardin de la cour Pic-vert offers another point of interest alongside the buildings and trails: it features medicinal aromatic plants. The planting may change over time. The garden thus provides a botanical focus alongside the historic buildings and the different trails by the lake; when deciding what interests you, you can consider these themes separately or together.

Planning your hotel stay in Taupont

When choosing Taupont as the destination for a hotel stay, you can plan your visit around your main interest: sacred architecture, plants in the garden, or trails by the lake. For planning how to spend your time, the stated walking time for the Circuit des chapelles offers a specific guide; the two trails at Lac au Duc can be compared mainly by their different lengths and themes. This can help you decide whether to focus more on culture or on walking and hiking trails before looking for a hotel in Taupont.

Discover more destinations: Lantillac, Port-Navalo, Hennebont, Bieuzy, Buléon, Pluherlin, Île D'houat, La Roche-Bernard

For the full travel guide: Morbihan.