Plusquellec combines historic religious buildings with a landscape-focused discovery along the Circuit de Kerthomas. At Notre-Dame-des-Grâces Church and the chapels of Saint Fiacre and Saint Mélar, different traces of the past can be distinguished; the route passes through bocage, sunken lanes lined with yew trees, heathland and moors, as well as traces of mining. This gives you two distinct focuses to consider when planning your trip: architectural history and a landscape that also bears traces of historic land use.
Churches and chapels: different traces of the past
Notre-Dame-des-Grâces Church was listed in its entirety as a historic monument by decree dated 19 September 2018. Its main construction phases are assigned to the 16th and 18th centuries. These are two different dates: the decree dates the listing, while the two centuries place the construction phases in context. The church complex also includes an enclosed area, an ossuary and a calvary.
The Chapelle Saint Fiacre brings together reconstruction and the use of older elements. It was rebuilt around 1933, reusing architectural elements from the 14th and 16th centuries. These include the west door, the west gable, the south door and the crossing piers. The date around 1933 therefore refers to the reconstruction, not to the age of the reused elements. This distinction helps put things in chronological context: a 20th-century reconstruction and architectural elements from two earlier centuries belong to the same chapel. It stands in isolation in Saint-Fiacre in Plusquellec.
The Chapelle Saint MĂ©lar is located in Locmenal and dates from before 1693. This gives it a different chronological reference from Saint Fiacre: at Saint MĂ©lar, the key date is before 1693; at Saint Fiacre, it is the reconstruction around 1933 using older architectural elements. Those wishing to compare architectural history can distinguish between the dating of a building and the use of older elements in a chapel rebuilt at a later date.
The Circuit de Kerthomas: landscape and traces of mining
The Circuit de Kerthomas starts in front of the church in Plusquellec. It passes through the bocage landscape typical of Brittany and along sunken lanes lined with yew trees; it also runs past traces of mining from the 18th and 19th centuries, heathland and moors. The route therefore brings together different landscape and history themes: bocage and sunken lanes are its main landscape features, while the traces of mining add a historical dimension. For travellers interested in both landscapes and traces of the past, this combination offers a clear focus.
Waterways are also part of the Kerthomas story: the pond and stream are considered habitats for otters. Their presence is regarded as a sign of good water quality. This extends the focus on nature beyond landscape features to the relationship between wildlife habitats and water quality.
Which focus suits your trip?
The themes are easy to distinguish when planning your trip: the church and the two chapels offer different historical points of reference, while the Circuit de Kerthomas brings together landscape features, wildlife habitats and traces of mining. Consider whether you are more interested in architectural history or in landscapes and nature, and choose the themes you would like to explore further during your stay accordingly.
Discover more destinations: La Motte, Paule, Plufur, Saint-Alban, Plerin, La Landec, Plouezec, Pleguien
For the regional travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
