Construction dates, reused materials and roadside crosses from different periods give Mantallot a distinctive cultural and historical character. The parish church of Saint-Médéric, the Bertu oratory and several crosses represent different chapters of this history. They are complemented by a local religious tradition and a circular cycling route that offers another way to explore the region. For planning your trip, the specific architectural and carved details, as well as the access arrangements for the parish church, are particularly useful.
Church, Oratory and Architectural History
The parish church of Saint-Médéric was built from the late 17th century to the first half of the 18th century. It houses a reliquary that has been classified as an object since 1968. The construction date and classification describe different aspects: the former places the church’s origins in time, while the latter is a separate date relating to the reliquary.
The Bertu chapel-oratory was built in 1958–1959 near a spring dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Vertus. Materials from the 17th-century seigneurial chapel of Lochou, now destroyed, were reused in its construction. As a result, the oratory brings together a 20th-century construction date and older building elements. A local tradition tells of mothers who prayed to Notre-Dame-des-Vertus for children who had difficulty walking.
The Manoir de Kerilis also offers specific architectural details. The former seigneurial residence was probably rebuilt in the 17th century. Its rear stair tower contains a wooden spiral staircase leading to the first floor and the attic floors. An old grey granite millstone was reused at the well. Reuse is thus evident in two very different objects: the chapel building materials from Lochou in the oratory, and a millstone at the manor’s well.
Roadside Crosses from Different Periods
The “Croix des Quatre Vents” roadside cross is located in the Les Quatre Vents area of Mantallot. Its parts date from different periods: the shaft is from the 16th century, while the upper section bearing a cross probably dates from the first quarter of the 19th century. This distinction also makes the cross architecturally interesting, since not all its parts acquired their present form at the same time.
The cemetery cross in Mantallot is a monolithic cross made of grey granite and probably dates from the 16th century. Its front depicts the dead Christ, while the back shows the Virgin and Child. The Penn ar Guer roadside cross is notable for its date and location: it probably dates from the late Middle Ages and stands on the historic “chemin du Vieux Marché à La Roche”.
Another cross, the “Croix de chemin, Park Mézou”, stands north of the village centre at the entrance to Park Mézou road, where it meets the D33D. Its base bears the date 1773 and an inscription naming the Vicomte de Kergariou as its donor. Unlike the cemetery cross, whose imagery is divided between its front and back, this cross tells the story of its donor through an inscription. The crosses therefore differ not only in their presumed dates, but also in the details that reveal their histories.
Landscape and Cycling
The Jaudy forms Mantallot’s natural eastern boundary. This landscape feature adds a clear geographical reference point to the area’s architectural and cultural history. Cycling enthusiasts can also explore the 24.2-kilometre Rospez–Berhet–Quemperven circular cycling route No. 12, which is connected with Mantallot. Large green-and-white cycle signs and smaller supplementary stickers mark the route. As the route and its signage may change if the route is altered, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting off.
Planning a Visit to the Parish Church
The parish church of Saint-Médéric is open only by prior arrangement with the town hall. Call ahead to check whether someone responsible will be there. If you plan to visit the church, make this inquiry before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Plestan, Plouagat, Coëtlogon, Lanrelas, Plougonver, Hillion, La Roche-Derrien, Troguéry.
For the broader travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
