Plumaudan offers several ways to explore local history, as well as a clearly measured hiking option. The Église Saint-Maudan stands on the foundations of a 12th-century church; the Fontaine Saint-Maudan has a Gothic arch in its gable; and a chapel was converted from a former stable. There is also the 10-kilometre circular trail “Dans l'air de Plum'”. This gives you the choice of focusing your stay on architectural and visual history, on the one hand, or a named hiking route, on the other.
Church and Fountain: Different Architectural Histories
The Église Saint-Maudan reveals two distinct building phases. It stands on the foundations of a 12th-century church; the foundation stone of the present church was laid on Sunday, 3 May 1846. These details refer to different historical points of reference: the foundations belong to an earlier church, while the date marks the beginning of the present building. This contrast helps distinguish the long history of the church site from the building history of today’s Église.
The Fontaine Saint-Maudan offers a different focus. The small structure was restored at the beginning of the 19th century and has a Gothic arch in its gable. Inside, a statue of Saint Maudan stands in a niche. The restoration, the shape of the gable and the niche offer three specific ways to look at the structure: its history, an architectural detail and a religious image. This means the Fontaine can be understood through more than just its date.
From a Former Stable to a Fresco Cycle
The Chapelle de la Dormition de la Mère de Dieu in La Touche, in Plumaudan, tells a different architectural story. It is a 20th-century chapel converted from a former stable and fitted out in 1975. The conversion is a story in its own right: unlike a history understood through foundations and the laying of a cornerstone, the focus here is on the change in the building’s use. The dates can also be distinguished: the chapel was fitted out in 1975, and the frescoes were painted in 1979.
The frescoes were created in the style of Théophane le Grec. Their programme includes a chronology of the Old Testament and a Deësis featuring Christ, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, and the Archangels Gabriel and Michael. The pictorial programme thus brings together two different forms: a sequence arranged chronologically and a depiction of the religious figures named above. Visitors interested in art history will find specific subjects here, alongside the building’s conversion and the dates, that help place the chapel in context.
Historic Boundary Marker and Hiking Option
At the Croix du Gacet, the focus is on a former function rather than a building phase or pictorial programme. The medieval wayside cross marked the boundary between Plumaudan and Yvignac. This adds another perspective to the history of the churches, chapel and Fontaine: the cross is linked to a historic boundary marker. It complements the architectural and artistic history with the question of the role a wayside cross once played in the area.
The “Dans l'air de Plum'” circular trail is 10 km long and is listed in the Dinan Agglomération Topoguide. The stated distance gives you a specific measure for planning a hike and can be considered as a focus in its own right alongside the cultural and historical sights. Before setting out, it is worth checking the current route and conditions. This will help you decide whether the circular trail or the architectural and visual history should be the main focus of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Paule, Saint-Clet, Saint-Igeaux, Quintin, Uzel, Pabu, Maël-Carhaix, Guingamp
For the overview of the wider region: Côtes-D’armor.
