©Eglise de Plouaret|Yoan Brière - La lanterne

Brittany's rural heritage communitiesin Trégor

Communes du Patrimoine Rural de Bretagne

The uniqueness of Brittany can be seen at every corner of a hamlet or village entrance, and seems to be engraved on every stone or wall forming an integral part of its rural heritage.
In order to safeguard, develop, inform and animate Brittany’s small rural heritage, a label was created in 1987. It is awarded for a period of 5 years to the communes of Plouaret, Pouldouran and Hengoat, which are committed to promoting their architectural heritage. It brings together elements that are often insignificant to the eye, but which represent a tradition and, above all, the domestic life of yesteryear. These include wells, bread ovens, troughs, washhouses, routers, mills and fountains. The best way to understand the importance of preserving and enhancing this important rural heritage, so dear to the hearts of the local population, is to take a stroll or even a hike along the trails, discovery and interpretation circuits.

Plouaret

Land of manor houses

The commune embarked on this path in 2004 and was awarded the label in 2005 and again in 2013. In the village, the parish church has been a listed monument since 1907. Its heterogeneous architecture bears witness to its centuries-old history. Between 1903 and 1905, the church was restored by Saint-Brieuc architect Jules Morvan, using stones salvaged from the Saint-Maudez chapel.
The statue of the horseman with the anguiped stands proudly at the entrance. The exact location of the find is not known. Initially, the statue was displayed for all to see, near the Saint-Mathieu chapel. In 1887, it was moved to the church square and then to the south porch to protect it from the elements.
It is a monolithic granite sculpture representing the god-rider Jupiter on his horse, trampling a half-human, half-animal female monster whose legs end in a serpent’s tail. Dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., it is a remarkable piece of Gallo-Roman cultural heritage in Brittany.
A few metres further down, you can follow the “Au tour de Luzel” interpretation trail, lined with interactive terminals, to plunge into the world of the tales and legends of Brittany collected by François Marie Luzel.

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buste-de-luzel-plouaret-christian-roche-declicarmor2013.jpg — ©Christian Roche - Déclic'Armor

©Pouldouran - La Roche-Jaudy|Adobe Stock

Poudouran

Formerly a small seaweed port

In the 19th century, the commune of Pouldouran became prosperous thanks to the flax industry. Numerous retting basins, vestiges of the flax industry, have been restored along the many hiking trails. At the same time, with the construction of the quay wall in the second half of the 19th century, the village became a small seaweed port. Boats unloaded seaweed at Port Béni (in Pleubian), Pouldouran and as far as La Roche-Derrien, depending on demand from farmers. This activity contributed to the town’s economic growth until the mid-20th century, when it ceased. The town boasts a fine architectural heritage, including the church of Saint-Bergat and its baptistery, as well as calvaries, crosses and wash-houses.
After a stopover at the Maison des Talus, immerse yourself in the history of flax, understanding what has contributed to the richness of the region and discovering the particularities of the local flora and fauna. This little blue flower has left its mark on the history of the Trégor region, as evidenced by the abundant heritage along this walk.

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Hengoat

On the road to slopes and flax mills

In the 19th century, there were no fewer than 3,600 routoirs in the Trégor region. Installed at the bottom of valleys, these are stone basins with no binding other than earth. They were used to retting flax until the 20th century, when they were abandoned in favor of field retting.
The omnipresence of water has structured the landscape and human activities. The countryside still bears the imprint of a rich bocage past, with its sunken lanes, embankments and valleys. Farmhouses and stone houses, remarkable for their size and architecture, bear witness to Hengoat’s wealth in the 19th century. Traces of past activities can be seen in the scattered settlements and “small heritage” buildings.
Several discovery and interpretation trails are available, including the “talus et routoirs à lin” trail, which takes you past the Saint-Maudez church and its calvary, mills, crosses, fountains and wells.
The bat walk is also an easy and relaxing way to discover the local heritage and bocage, and to immerse yourself in the authenticity of this commune.

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The Valley of the Paper Mills

Maintenance of the banks of the Léguer