Places to Visit

The Six Yews at LANSALAUN

This remarkable collection of yew trees can be found next to the chapel of Lansalaun, between Paule, and the old main road from Carhaix to Rostrenen.
The largest is just next to the church, on a bank, and five other younger yews are in a row, in front. They surround a charming spring, built entirely from [...]

Roc’h Toullaeron

Three hundred and twenty-six metres above sea level, on the top of the Roc’h Toullaëron, there is a spectacular view over the Menez Du (Montagnes Noires), the so-called black ‘mountains’, which run through south-western Brittany, from Chateauneuf-du-Faou to Glomel.
The road out from Gourin to Spezet, takes you round the hill, but there are paths off [...]

Yews, Le Moustoir

Left and right, can be seen the trunks of the two enormous yew trees at the chapel of Le Moustoir, near St-Goazec. The chapel, which is decorated with an abundance of flowers, is just by the road, and the two yews (both well over five hundred years old) stand in front.

Brittany’s Oldest Yew

INSIDE BRITTANY’S OLDEST YEW, 12 centuries of tree twist in contorted knots on all sides. Thought to have been planted in 845, it once carried the church bells while the belltower was being rebuilt. Today it looks its age, but a peek inside the trunk will reveal the astonishing regenerative powers of the yew, as [...]

Guillotin’s Oak

1000 year old oak trees are uncommon. This one is just far enough off the beaten track not to make a detour while hacking to or from St. Malo. So, as many of us rarely visit things that are on our doorstep, I determined to go.
Despite having seen a picture, at first sight I was [...]

Dolmens on the Landes de Gouarec

Regular users of the D5 out of Gouarec to Silfiac and Pontivy may have noticed a sign, which reads ‘Dolmens’ pointing down a road on the left, just after the Lande de Gouarec. Two more signs lead you uphill to a ‘Route des Dolmens’ and even past a ‘Gite des Dolmens’. But here we find [...]

Dolmen of Brohet

The forest of Beffou is famed for its mushrooms. The area was also a den for robbers and horse thieves, who took advantage of the high and wooded ground, to waylay travelers on their way to the fairs in Callac. There is what is thought to be a Roman road through the forest, known as [...]

Fontaine & Chapelle de Lorette

The Chapelle de Lorette can be found at the end of a short, tree-lined walk up a gentle slope from the Fontaine de Lorette.
This small chapel is extremely beautiful with stained glass windows and flagstone floor – the feeling of peace and tranquillity is immediate as you step through the door. There is a Pardon [...]

Oak of Panner

In the fifteen hundreds, a large oak was mentioned as growing in the vicinity of St-Tugdual. Five hundred years later the tree is still there, and in excellent health.
Although no doubt hollow, the trunk is still intact and forks out into several huge braches, which attain a remarkable height. The large dead branch near the [...]

Tronjoly Oak

The Tronjoly Oak – la Chene de Tronjoly, or Ar Ven Der (the oak tree) is probably Europe’s oldest oak, and surprisingly, has received no ‘maintenance’ treatment, such as reinforcements and trimming.
The tree is estimated to be 1500 years old. Its trunk has now completely divided, giving the impression of two or three trees. It [...]