The entire coastline of the commune of Hillion is part of the RĂ©serve Naturelle de la Baie de Saint-Brieuc. The area also offers nature activities, cycling and trail routes, as well as historic buildings. When looking for a hotel in Hillion, you can use these different themes to help guide your travel plans: would you like to focus on the coastal landscape, outdoor activities or history?
Discover the Coast and Nature
The Maison de la Baie presents Hillion’s natural heritage in a museum. From there, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the sea, dunes and surrounding landscape. This offers two different ways to focus on the scenery and natural history: take in the surroundings or explore specific topics on nature excursions.
The Maison de la Baie offers a wide range of nature excursions throughout the year. Topics include shellfish farming, coastal wildlife, birds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as plankton. The selection covers everything from coastal habitats to smaller organisms. At Pointe d’Illemont, the birdwatching observatory offers the chance to discover wildlife protected by the Réserve. Visitors interested in the peninsula can also explore it via the GR 34.
Cycling, Trail Running and the Peninsula
EuroVelo Route 4 passes through Hillion. The Tour de Manche also runs through the commune: it is a 1,200-kilometre French-British cycling circuit. The distance describes the length of the circuit; Hillion lies along its route. The two route names offer a concrete starting point for anyone looking to combine their stay with cycling.
Hillion’s Espace Trail includes four permanently signposted routes ranging from 8 to 25 kilometres, as well as three dedicated training areas. The route distances and training areas are two distinct parts of the offering. Together with the GR 34, they provide several named ways to explore Hillion actively, each with different details and focuses rather than a single, general tour description.
Buildings Bearing the Traces of Different Eras
The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Hillion has Romanesque origins dating from the late 11th century. Its features include a watchtower that was used for defence and has loopholes. The building’s history and defensive function are two distinct aspects of the church.
The Chapelle Saint-Laurent in Les Ponts-Neufs was built in 1572. Its gable was rebuilt in 1629, followed by restorations in 1931 and again at the end of the 20th century. These dates distinguish the construction, alteration and subsequent restorations. The Calvaire de Bonabry also dates from the second half of the 16th century. It stands at Vieille Croix, at the entrance to the avenue leading to the Bonabry manor house, and is protected under French heritage law. Hillion’s buildings thus offer the chance to consider traces of different historical periods side by side.
Discover more destinations: Cavan, Eréac, Plouguenast, Loguivy-Plougras, Plouaret, La Chapelle-Neuve, Ile-De-Bréhat, Hénanbihen
For an overview of the wider area: Côtes-D’armor.
