Cathedrals & Religious heritage

The Cathedral of Saint-Samson

Come and discover the majestic Cathedral of Saint-Samson, a raw jewel with its fortified north face and luminous Gothic architecture, its great 13th-century glass roof, a delicately chiselled masterpiece of light are definitely not to be missed.

Originally Romanesque (remains in the north tower), rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries, under the guidance of at least four architects. All in granite, beautiful Gothic style, inspired, above all, by Anglo-Norman architecture. North tower rebuilt in the 16th century, south tower in the 17th century. Large choir window, a masterpiece from the 13th and 14th centuries. Oak stalls from the 14th century. 15th-century wooden Virgin and Child at the back of the choir. Florentine Renaissance tomb (early 16th century) of Thomas James, bishop of Dol who lived in Rome… Be charmed by one of Brittany’s most beautiful cathedrals and enjoy an unforgettable experience combining power and architectural marvel. Enter this haven of peace bathed in light and discover the jewels that make it up. A testament to the prestigious religious past of the town of Dol-de-Bretagne, this 13th-century Gothic-style cathedral will impress you.

Visit Saint-Samson’s Cathedral

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The Cathedral of Saint-Vincent

The Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Saragosse in Saint-Malo is one of three cathedrals in the diocese, along with those of Rennes and Dol de Bretagne. It is dedicated to Saint-Vincent-de-Saragosse, a martyr from the early 4th century.
It was built in the 12th century by Jean de Châtillon. He confiscated a Benedictine church being built on the rocky outcrop. The Gothic choir is lower than the Romanesque nave: it looks like a ship about to set sail.

Cathedral since 1146, its construction lasted nearly 7 centuries (12th – 18th centuries). Heavily damaged in 1944, the cathedral underwent a lengthy restoration. Its architecture provides an interesting summary of sacred art, from the Romanesque sculptures in the nave to contemporary works. The cross vaults of the three bays are among the oldest in Brittany (mid 12th century), with superb stained glass windows by Ingrand and Le Moal and furniture by Arcabas. Inside are the tombs of the explorer Jacques Cartier and the corsaire malouin Duguay-Trouin.

Length: 64.50 metres overall and 56.50 metres in the work
Width: 26.80 metres for the nave and aisles, 8.50 metres for the nave alone
Height: 15.60 metres under vault, 21 metres for the chancel

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L’Abbaye Notre-Dame du Tronchet

A hermit named Gaultier withdrew in the 12th century to the Mesnil forest to pray in solitude and contemplate nature. The man’s faith attracted many followers, who settled in a religious community. It gave rise to the first church, which later became the abbey of Notre-Dame du Tronchet. A former Benedictine monastery, Tronchet Abbey was founded in 1117: it was destroyed several times over the centuries.

In the 17th century, the abbey was rebuilt a little further up the hill, away from the marshes. However, the neo-classical facade has retained a large double mullioned bay from the first 12th-century church.

The cruciform plan abbey has a single nave and ends in a straight chevet. It is topped by a bell tower consisting of three small domes one above the other. The cloister contains the gardens where the monks grew vegetables and medicinal herbs. There is also a remarkable holly tree, planted in 1643.

The abbey manor house dates back to the 13th century, while the abbey church that can be visited dates back to the 17th century.

The Notre-Dame de Beaufort monastery

A monastery is still in operation in Beaufort on the commune of Plerguer. A community of nuns from the Order of Preachers is based in an ancient manor house, Château de Beaufort, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages.

The Dominican nuns play a musical instrument called the Kora during services. This is an African harp made from half a calabash and covered in parchment-lined ox skin. It has a long wooden handle with 21 strings attached.

The nuns work on making icons, jams and sewing. All their creations are on sale in the monastery shop.

The parish enclosure of Saint-Suliac

Classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France®, the fishing village of Saint-Suliac, located on the banks of the Rance is known for its rebuilt 13th-century Gothic-style church. The church of Saint-Suliac is one of the oldest in Brittany and is a listed historic monument. An early Romanesque church was built in the early 11th century, of which only the doorway in the west gable (facing the shore) remains. The current Gothic-style church was built in the 13th century.

The church contains a number of works dedicated to the maritime heritage, as well as ex-voto (miniature models of boats), testifying to the fervour of the people of Suliaçais. A stained glass window dating from 1908 illustrates the procession of sailors before their departure for Newfoundland: the faces are those of real Suliaçais sailors, which is all the more moving. Above the altar to the Virgin, a carved wooden panel dating from 1905, depicts the oratory of Grainfollet as well as a representation of a shipwreck.

The church is enclosed by a parish enclosure with its cemetery. Parish enclosures, characteristic of rural religious architecture is a construction that has become rare in this part of Brittany. One of the oldest parish enclosures in Brittany.

In 1974, the fishermen setting off for Newfoundland vowed to erect a shrine dedicated to the Virgin if they all returned safely. It took 10 years for all the fishermen to return safely from their fishing expeditions and honour this promise: the quartz oratory was built in 1894. Every year on 15 August, a procession climbs to Grainfollet.

Continue your visit to Saint-Suliac and stroll through the ruettes

Don’t miss Les Incontournables des Joyaux de la Rance!”

The parish enclosure of the church of Saint-Ouen des Iffs

The church of Saint-Ouen is characterised by its location at the heart of a parish enclosure containing several hundred-year-old iffs, one of which is listed as a “remarkable tree”.
A parish enclosure is a religious complex grouping together a church, a cemetery, a calvary and an ossuary within the same enclosure.