In Guilers, a range of historical themes meet the Bodonou natural area. Its buildings offer points of interest spanning architecture from the 15th and 16th centuries to the history of defence in the late 18th century. Bodonou adds a wetland and trails to this perspective. When planning your trip, you can therefore first decide whether you are most interested in architectural history, a historic monument, or landscape and trails.
Architecture and building history
The Église Saint-Valentin brings together several clearly distinct architectural styles. Its oldest parts date from the 15th century. The south portal is Renaissance in style, the nave is Neo-Gothic, and the windows and choir are Neoclassical. The style labels therefore refer to different parts of the building: the portal, nave, windows and choir each have their own architectural classification. At the entrance to the small parish enclosure, there is also a 16th-century Pietà carved from Kersanton stone. Here, the study of architectural forms can be complemented by a single religious artwork and its material.
The Manoir de Kéroual is a 16th-century building in the Bois de Keroual in Guilers. Today, it serves an artistic purpose and has been associated with the electronic music festival Astropolis since 2002. This building thus brings together historic architecture, a contemporary artistic function and a connection to the festival. Fort de Penfeld offers a different focus: it was built between 1776 and 1783 to defend Brest against an English attack from the west. Its later acquisition and restoration by the municipality of Guilers made it possible to preserve an important part of Brest’s heritage. This makes it possible to distinguish its original military purpose from its later role in heritage conservation.
Bodonou: wetland and trails
The Bodonou natural area lies in a wetland between Guilers, Saint-Renan and Plouzané. It covers 127 hectares and is located on the edge of a former quarry site that was used for industrial purposes there for around 40 years. Bodonou also has 8 kilometres of trails, which are open year-round. If you are planning to use the trails on a specific date, it may be worth checking their availability locally.
The natural setting and the buildings appeal to different interests: Bodonou offers a direct connection to wetlands and trails, while the Église Saint-Valentin and the Manoir de Kéroual focus primarily on architectural themes. The fort adds military history and the preservation of Brest’s heritage to the mix. This lets you choose the focus of your stay according to which of these themes matters most to you.
Other monuments
The Chapelle de Bodonou houses a polychrome statue of the Virgin and Child carved from Kersanton stone, which is listed in the inventory of historic monuments. The chapel was probably built at the beginning of the 16th century. This dating is therefore considered probable. Croas Téo is an octagonal protohistoric stele that was Christianized and topped with a cross. It is regarded as the oldest monument in Guilers. The two examples represent different forms of heritage: a chapel with its statue, and a stele whose form was shaped by Christianization and the cross that crowns it.
Discover more destinations: Plougonven, Cast, Lannéanou, Guerlesquin, Scrignac, Plouider, Bannalec, Le Tréhou.
For the broader travel overview: Finistere.
