A chapel near the GR 34, a granite viaduct with five arches, and a circular route that connects a former railway line with a stretch of coastline: Kersaint is best discovered through its cultural history and trails. When planning your stay, it helps to choose between a longer hike and individual visits. The Circuit de Trémazan covers 12 kilometres and takes three hours; there is also a shorter, easy loop. The chapel, spring and château each offer a different focus.
Chapel and Cultural History
The Notre-Dame de Bon Secours Chapel is near the GR 34 and is also the starting point for the Circuit de Trémazan. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Palm Sunday to All Saints’ Day and during the Christmas holidays. Outside these periods, it is open on Sundays. Check the opening hours before your trip so you can fit a visit to the chapel into your plans.
The present-day chapel in Kersaint was built between the 15th and 16th centuries and elevated to a collegiate church in 1518. Three stained-glass windows dating from 1901 were made by the glass painter Léon Payan. The Maison des Chanoines is also part of the history of the chapel’s care: it was built between 1550 and 1560 for a small community of six canons. The community had been founded in 1518 to care for the chapel in Kersaint.
For centuries, the sanctuary of Kersaint was an important centre of popular devotion and drew pilgrims from across the region. The Pardons held for the Assumption of Mary, Trinity Sunday and Ascension Day were particularly important. In summer, the Cycle Musical de la Chapelle de Kersaint-Landunvez puts on five or six concerts. Check the specific dates before your trip.
Choose Circular Routes by Length and Course
The Ballade à Kersaint is an easy 5.5-kilometre circular walking route. At 12 kilometres, the Circuit de Trémazan is the longer loop; it is listed as taking three hours. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by the desired distance, without assigning a walking time to the shorter loop.
The Circuit starts at the chapel and follows the former railway line to Argenton. On the return, it takes the GR 34 along the coast from Penfoul to Trémazan and Kersaint. The route thus combines a section along the former railway line with a coastal path. If you plan to take this loop, you can use the stated duration of three hours as a guide when planning your time.
Viaduct and Sainte-Haude Spring
The Kersaint Viaduct was built from local granite. Its five arches rise 12 metres above the Kersaint River. The former railway line by the viaduct is now a road used by cyclists and walkers as well. The viaduct and the line’s changed use each tell a different part of the story of this place’s railway history.
The Sainte-Haude Spring is in a wooded setting, far from houses. Its features include a basin, a simple washhouse and a reused Gallic stele. To reach it, park 300 metres before the end of the paved road and continue on foot. After 200 metres, turn onto the path to the spring. The path can be muddy after rain, so bear this in mind when planning your visit.
Château de Trémazan and Plage du Château
The Château de Trémazan in Kersaint is a ruined fortified castle. Entry is expressly prohibited because it is privately owned and there is a risk of falling stones. Observe the prohibition and check the access information on site. An illustrated information board stands right by the château car park.
At high tide, Plage du Château is a small, sheltered cove near the village of Kersaint. It adds a coastal spot to the cultural sites and circular routes, which you can consider when planning your stay.
For the broader travel overview: Landunvez.
