Stroll through the maze of ruettes of Saint-Suliac

Starting point

The church, one of the oldest in Brittany. It is here, that the Welsh monk, Suliau, founded the town in the 6th century, in 560. A church in the heart of the village, surrounded by its old cemetery and its parish enclosure. A pause is necessary inside the church, to observe the stained glass windows, the numerous works dedicated to the maritime heritage. A stained glass window dating from 1908 will attract your attention, it illustrates a procession of sailors leaving for Newfoundland, the faces are those of real Suliaçais sailors. You will be able to collect yourself on the tomb of Suliac the Welsh monk, on the wall of the church an inscription tells you the exact location.When leaving, from the church, take the direction of the parish enclosure, behind the church, this will lead you to the houses of Saint-Suliac, on the way these houses offer you a window with a view on the Rance.

Instant Panorama

Second step, the small wells

Take the ruette of small wells, you will rush between the walls and discover the port of Saint-Suliac, the view of the Rance.Legendary information: at the end of the street a well dating from the 17th century, which gave its name to the ruette. A legend indicates that the well was rigged and that it gave access to an underground leading to the church and surrounding streets.

Third step, the Port of Saint-Suliac

On the left, the nautical activities, and the road to Mont-Garrot, and on the right, we observe in the distance the oratory of the Virgin of Grainfollet and the hold. The port of Saint-Suliac is a landmark of the village. Sit on the benches and watch the peaceful Rance, the small boats resting, a must of your visit. Some small boats are part of the maritime history of Saint-Suliac, the Doris which were used for cod fishing. With a crew of 2 men, the dories were used to set and raise the lines. And also, the Chippe, a traditional boat that was used to fish for sand eels in the estuary of the Rance or on the sandbanks of Dinard and Saint-Malo.Local info: You can observe the Chippe Maria, a replica of this traditional boat in the port of Saint-Suliac.

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Fourth step, the Marian cult

Several places dedicated to the Marian cult are remarkable in Saint-Suliac: the Virgin of the Bosse, the virgin niches on the houses and the Oratory of Grainfollet!”The Oratory of Grainfollet: Shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary.Info “They say”: The story goes that in 1874, the fishermen leaving for the countryside made a vow: if they all returned safely, they would build a shrine in honor of the Virgin at the place where their wives waited for the boats to arrive. It took 20 years before they finally returned in 1894 and fulfilled this promise. They built this oratory in quartz of Mont-Garrot.Nowadays, every August 15, the place is the subject of a procession that goes up to Grainfollet.

Instant Panorama

Prehistoric Info: Under this oratory a Paleolithic site grouping more than 6000 archaeological objects carved. Bones and teeth prove the presence of Mammoths. We could have met Manny, the mammoth of the Ice Age.From the Oratory of Grainfollet, you can return to the village by the ruettes, your stroll will lead you to the Virgin of the Bosse also called “Virgin of sailors” recalling the Virgin of Our Lady of Lourdes, inaugurated in 1908 and placed on a rocky mound in quartz of Mont-Garrot.

Last step, the houses

The oldest ones date from the 17th century. Marked by the life of the village, their names, the rounded front doors, the fishing nets on the facades all come from the suliaçaises activities. Village of sailors, fishermen and farmers.

Go to:

La Grande Ruchée, its name comes from the noise caused by the many looms.A l’Impasse des châteaux, old door with an original shape that facilitated the passage of barrels.And rue des Besniers, name of an old factory where the flax cultivated in Saint-Suliac was woven.Attention, do not forget to raise your head to observe the sculpted stones, the small heads on the corners of the houses.The soul of Saint-Suliac, is marked by events. Saint-Suliac Autrefois, the festival of the Doris, the Christmas market, Saint-Suliac in painting… Village party atmosphere guaranteed! Where tradition and folklore are at the rendez-vous!