In Botsorhel, buildings and crosses represent different historical periods, while moors and springs form another focal point. Two routes complement these themes, each with its own described features. This lets you decide whether your trip will focus on architecture, nature or a particular route.
Church, Chapel and Crosses
The Church of Saint-Georges in Botsorhel has a Latin cross floor plan with three naves. These two details describe different aspects of the building: the cross shape refers to the floor plan, while the three naves divide the interior. Together, both features offer insight into the architecture.
Near the hamlet of Lesconais stands the Chapelle du Christ, a chapel dating from the 18th century. The year 1738 is inscribed on it. It was probably rebuilt over an older structure. This brings together a specific year and a cautiously described earlier building history: the possible earlier history should be distinguished from the date visible on the chapel.
The crosses also offer different historical references. Croaz-an-Alleguen is thought to be the oldest cross in Botsorhel; it may date back to the end of the Middle Ages. The year 1813 is inscribed on the base of the Saint-Ener cross, which also combines elements from the Middle Ages and the 17th century. The comparison highlights the difference between a possible age attribution and a specific year, alongside building elements from several periods.
Historic Structures for Everyday Life and Fortification
At the 16th-century Château de Kergariou, only the moats fed by a stream remain. They mark the boundaries of the former terrace of the fortified site. The surviving remains therefore mainly indicate the layout of the site and its former fortifications, rather than a surviving château building.
The covered washhouse at Kerizella complements the religious buildings with a structure for everyday use. It dates from the 19th century and is made of slate and granite. The surviving features are the slate-slab basin edges, which served as washboards. Here, building materials and surviving functional features are the focus, whereas for the church, chapel and crosses the focus is on floor plan, dating or the combination of different periods.
Moors and River Sources
The Roc Gouino moor is home to the source of the River Douron. The source of the Guic lies in the Guernéholet peat bog; part of this area is in Plougras, in the Côtes-d’Armor département. The two natural sites are therefore associated with different rivers. For Guernéholet, the stated location of part of the area in Plougras is also part of its geographical context.
If you are interested in landscapes and the sources of rivers, these details offer a different way to explore Botsorhel than its architectural history. The sources of the Douron and the Guic refer to two separate locations: they lie in different moorland areas and should not be considered a single natural site.
Two Routes, Different Details
At the start, the Les sentiers buissonniers route follows Rue du Ponthou for 150 metres, then joins the GR® de Pays des Monts d’Arrée. Different details are given for the Menez Kerven VTT – 12 mountain bike route: it passes within a few hundred metres of Botsorhel town centre and points out the church there. For the first route, the details refer to the initial stretch along the road and the connection to the long-distance trail; for the mountain bike route, they refer to its location near the town centre and the mention of the church. If you plan to take one of the routes, check the current route before setting out; route conditions can change.
When planning your trip, you can consider these themes separately: the church, chapel, crosses and historic buildings offer different architectural and historical reference points, while the moors provide a focus on the landscape. The route descriptions, in turn, provide specific details about their respective courses. This lets you choose the interests that matter most to you during your stay in Botsorhel.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-Du-Doigt, Tréméven, Tréguennec, Gouézec, Kerlaz, Guipronvel, Cap Coz, Locquirec.
For the wider travel overview: Finistere.
