MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 1 SET OFF AND ENJOY 8 discovery tours MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 2 Editorial Key These eight discovery tours are an invitation to adventure as they take Starting point Departmental Boat hire D wilderness area Tourist you through contrasting countryside and stop off in the centres of our Information Park or gardens Wildlife park Center towns and villages. Covering between 60 and 80 km, they will take Town of Art Activity centre Harbour and History you along often quiet roads, past natural and architectural heritage sites. Small Town Water sport Riverside stop of Character activities Follow the signposts and then marvel at the delightful and memorable France's most Tourist Bike hire beautiful villages Information landscapes as you turn a corner or reach a breathtaking vantage point. Point Stop-over village Outdoor Golf course activity circuit Enchanting forests, sunken lanes, rivers and great expanses of water Discovery trail Brittany's Rural Hiking trail with lush green banks await you! Or perhaps you are more interested Heritage Villages Castle, Mill Canoe hire in architecture? In any case, be sure to get out of the car every now manor house Religious Picnic area and again as there are many charming things to do en route. Take your heritage Boat trips Museum or pick from visiting churches, strolling down mediaeval alleyways, place of interest Leisure park Water mill Megalithic Children's play Horse riding kayaking or canoeing down rivers, or watching migratory birds. site area Vantage point Land yachting Airport SAINT-MALO MONT SAINT-MICHEL Contents Rance Valley DOL-DE-BRETAGNE Dol area ANTRAIN Couesnon DOL AREA DISCOVERY TOUR . 4-5 Tinténiac Valley TINTÉNIAC-MONTMURAN DISCOVERY TOUR . 6-7 Montmuran FOUGÈRES IN MARQUISE DE SÉVIGNÉ COUNTRY . 8-9 TINTÉNIAC In Marquise RANCE VALLEY DISCOVERY TOUR . 10-11 de Sévigné Broceliande COUESNON VALLEY DISCOVERY TOUR . 12-13 country VITRÉ RENNES VILAINE VALLEY DISCOVERY TOUR . 14 TO 16 Gates BROCELIANDE DISCOVERY TOUR . 17 TO 19 PLÉLAN-LE-GRAND to Brittany GATES TO BRITTANY DISCOVERY TOUR . 20 TO 22 Vilaine Valley REDON MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 4 Whether crossing woods and marshland DOL AREA or leisurely following the coast, this tour leads to a land of legends where the landscapes are both wild discovery tour and sculpted by human hand. Between sea and forests… In Le Vivier-sur-Mer, the rows of stakes, used to grow tasty saffron-coloured mussels, form a surprising scene while in the background, there is a patchwork of polders and marshland. N This area, won over from the sea, is today home to an abundance of wildlife and great views can be had from Roz-sur-Couesnon panoramic gardens. If you want to get even higher, head for Mont-Dol. This 64-metre-high rounded granite hillock is dotted with trees and bushes and is set in the midst of marshland. It is an unusual site where enthusiasts can enjoy specially designed climbing routes. These vast expanses of marshland make way for the emerald-green forests of Villecartier, a starting point for delightful hikes. Surprising architectural remains In Dol-de-Bretagne, the half-timbered houses in Grande Rue and Rue Ceinte provide a won- derful glimpse of the Middle Ages. To find out about the history of the cathedral's Gothic nave (12th, 13th and 15th centuries) visit the Medievalys Middle Ages cathedral discovery centre. The surrounding countryside is home to the Champ Dolent menhir, one of the tallest in Brittany. And the equally unusual Chappe telegraph tower, located in Saint-Marcan, is the only one of its kind to have been restored in the whole département. It was part of a system linking Brest to Paris. As for the Cherrueix and Mont-Dol mills, they serve as reminders of local people's desire to make the most of their surroundings. Today, the wind and vast shoreline here delight land yachting enthusiasts. 5 MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 6 This road tour takes you through an area which has been TINTÉNIAC-MONTMURAN marked by history and reveals traces of its past in the open countryside. discovery tour From high ridges to green banks This 70 km tour will take you past landscapes that have mainly been sculpted by human hand - small wooded plots of land and vast green expanses beneath two high ridges. Far from being dull, the windy road twists and turns its way through Saint-Brieuc-des-Iffs. Water features in the most beautiful stops of the tour along the Ille-et-Rance canal. In fact, in Bazouges -sous-Hédé, no fewer than 11 locks can be made out along the green banks! Architectural heritage A tour with an historical feel The Château de Montmuran, in Les Iffs, has retained its former charm with its towers and drawbridge. Bécherel's town walls bear witness to military activity in the area and the old workshops of this Small Town of Character are today home to bookshops and craftspeople. The Château de La Bourbansais, in Pleugueneuc, boasts a beautifully decorated interior and children will enjoy the zoo in its grounds. The Musée de l’outil tool museum ends this tour of Tinténiac and is perfect for learning about D techniques in days gone by. The countryside is also dotted with many churches and chapels with various different bell towers and spires. Take Les Iffs, for example, which boasts a mag- nificent Flamboyant Gothic style church. 7 MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 8 Follow the Marquise de Sévigné tour and discover In MARQUISE DE SÉVIGNÉ country the countryside around Vitré, where this French writer once stayed. Enjoy the wealth of cultural and natural Exploring Vitré’s countryside heritage and the wide range of leisure activities on offer. A mediaeval centre N You'd think it had come straight out of a fairy tale but the Château de Vitré is far from a dream. It is in fact one of the most beautiful citadels St Christophe- des-Bois in France and has been overlooking the River Châtillon- Vilaine since the late 11th century. Visit the en-Vendelais museum to find out more! The mediaeval town is also worth exploring as it boasts colourful half-timbered and slate façades – reminders of Montautour the wealth of overseas merchants. A mysterious D 528 atmosphere lingers in the steep alleyways and shady squares to Notre-Dame Church, a jewel D 794 D 24 of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Not far from Vitré, you'll come across the former resi- D 178 D 777 Val-d’Izé St-M'Hervé dence of the Marquise de Sévigné, the Château D 179 des Rochers-Sévigné. The tour is of course D 24 D dotted with many other architectural treasures, Landavran D 105 Montreuil- such as Montautour, the surprising neo-Gothic sous-Pérouse Château du Bois Cornillé in Val-d’Izé or Champeaux Church and its close! D 305 La Haute-Vilaine Champeaux Reflected in the water… D 777 La Chapelle- Although history is very much present along D 704 Erbrée the tour, the countryside also reveals its gems. La Cantache ne ilai Varying in size, the many lakes reflect their a V L banks and the beautiful colours of the sky. D 857 VITRÉ Choose an original stop-off from the Base D 110 Nautique de Haute Vilaine water sports centre, La Valière dam (Vitré), Châtillon-en-Vendelais lake, La Cantache dam and Le Pertre lake. They offer walks along specially designed paths, fishing, bird watching and even sailing! Erbrée D 88 D 29 D 777 La Valière Aire d’Erbrée D 178 Les Rochers- Mondevert Sévigné N 157 D 111 D29 Argentré- Forêt du Pertre D 8 du-Plessis 9 8 MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 10 RANCE VALLEY discovery tour Making its way along the water, the Rance Valley tour goes in search of magnificent landscapes and charming views. Make the most of the 50 km to explore this area, characterised by the nearby sea. Nature at the water's edge The River Rance ends its journey in a magnifi- cent ria, where fresh and salt water combine to form a world of wooded coves and wide bays. The estuary is awash with emerald greens and deep blues. Take Minihic-sur-Rance for example, where La Landriais dry dock bears witness to the area's former maritime trade. (Newfoundland dory boats used to be built here). In season, the crowds are far from these tiny havens that are proudly overlooked by maritime pine trees. From typical St. Malo residences to forts... The architectural heritage on either side of the river makes for interesting visits. You can choose from Saint-Suliac, one of France's most beautiful villages, Montmarin mansion in Pleurtuit or tidal mills. There are also various traces of military architecture, such as the Fort in Saint-Père-Marc-en-Poulet or the surprising Tour Solidor, a tower that stands watch at the mouth of the river; it is home to the Musée international des Cap-Horniers Cape Horners museum. The famous privateer town of St. Malo, with its magnificent ship owners' resi- dences and parapet walks, was once a major free port and is not to be missed! 11 MP-2010-GB-noir 100 14/01/10 13:26 Page 12 La Fontenelle N 175 Antrain Forêt de R La Haute . d Le Plessis e n Villecartier L o a n s e COUESNON VALLEY V i u lle o M La Chasserie C a e rie L Le Haut Tréhin discovery tour Mézaubin Le Pontavis Le Pont Alçon Le Houx Set off in search of enchanting landscapes D 796 L'Écu t u o and traditional architecture.