Ille-Et-Vilaine reveals itself through a wide variety of landscapes: coastal areas, river valleys and rural countryside feature dunes, marshes, forests, heathland, wetlands, bocage hedgerows, ponds and gravel pits. This variety makes nature a rich subject for discovery here. The département protects natural sites recognized for their ecological, landscape or geological importance.

River landscapes and trails

The Couesnon flows for 80 kilometers through Ille-Et-Vilaine in a wooded granite valley before reaching the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The valley is an open natural area with marked trails for hikers and horseback riders. Its habitats are home to woodland birds and mammals as well as wetland insects, reptiles and amphibians.

The département’s natural areas are open year-round and crisscrossed by hiking trails with interpretive markers. Local access conditions may vary; check the conditions on your chosen trail before setting out.

Saint-Just: circular walks of varying lengths

Three circular walks start at the Maison Mégalithes et Landes in the Mégalithes et landes de Saint-Just area. They take about one hour, an hour and a half, or two and a half hours, so you can choose a walk to suit the time you have available. The Maison serves as an information point and starting point for walks around the megalithic site. The green loop is accessible to people with reduced mobility; check current trail conditions before your walk.

The landscape around Saint-Just is also worth a closer look: meadows, cultivated fields and heathland provide habitat for yellowhammers, skylarks, bees and numerous insects. The presence of these species varies by season. Buckwheat, known as blé noir in Brittany, is another link to the history of the landscape: it once thrived on nutrient-poor soils. The département sows it every year to commemorate local history.

On foot, by bike and along the coast

For walking, the marked trail network in Ille-Et-Vilaine covers 5,000 kilometers, including PR, GR and GRP routes. Cyclists can also choose from an extensive network: more than 1,700 kilometers of marked cycle routes, including 420 kilometers on seven greenways. Along the coast, possible activities include walking, swimming, boating and diving.

One longer route is La Régalante: it connects Mont-Saint-Michel and Nantes over 275 kilometers in nine stages and passes through the Marches de Bretagne. The route has gentle gradients and protected sections. As route conditions can change, check the latest route information before setting out.

Trading towns and stories

In Vitré, a medieval castle, town walls and half-timbered houses form a historic ensemble. The town holds the Ville d’Art et d’Histoire label. Its architecture also tells the story of the cloth merchants: from the 15th century onward, they had half-timbered or stone houses built, and their international trade brought them prosperity. A museum in the Château de Vitré presents the town’s history in ten exhibition rooms. Exhibition content may change.

An interactive visitor route has been available at the Château de Fougères since 2009; visitor experiences may change. In Paimpont, the Porte des Secrets immersive route introduces the different treasures of the Brocéliande forest. Sites associated with the legends of Brocéliande include the Val sans retour, the Arbre d’Or, the Miroir aux Fées and the Fontaine de Barenton.

A regional product also reflects the natural conditions: Marrons de Redon chestnuts thrive thanks to Brittany’s acidic soils and temperate climate. In Ille-Et-Vilaine, landscapes, history and local produce sit side by side, so a trip need not be devoted to just one theme.

Getting there and choosing a base

TGV and TER services make it easier to travel around the département. BreizhGo offers regional connections to major destinations such as Dinard, Saint-Malo, Brocéliande, Fougères and Vitré. Check routes and timetables before travelling. When choosing your accommodation, consider whether nature trails, coastal activities or cultural history will be the main focus of your stay, and plan your trip accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Brie, Argentré-Du-Plessis, Baguer-Morvan, Baguer-Pican, Bazouges-La-Pérouse, Bonnemain, Bruc-Sur-Aff, Cancale, Cherrueix, Combourg, Dinard, Dol-De-Bretagne, Epiniac, La Boussac, La Chapelle-Aux-Filtzméens, La Fresnais, La Gouesnière, La Ville-Ès-Nonais, Le Tronchet, Les Iffs, Lillemer, Miniac-Morvan, Mont-Dol, Muel, Pleurtuit, Plouasné, Poilley, Rennes, Roz-Landrieux, Roz-Sur-Couesnon, Saint-Broladre, Saint-Coulomb, Saint-Georges-De-Gréhaigne, Saint-Lunaire, Saint-Malo, Saint-Marcan, Saint-Médard-Sur-Ille, Saint-Méloir-Des-Ondes, Saint-Père, Saint-Pern, Saint-Pierre-De-Plesguen, Saint-Suliac, Tinteniac, Trans-La-Forêt, Tremblay, Vieux-Viel, Hirel, Châteauneuf-D'ille-Et-Vilaine, Pleine-Fougères, Luitré, Longaulnay, Le Minihic Sur Rance, Vitré, Saint-Jouan-Des-Guérets, Saint-Jacques-De-La-Lande, Saint-Grégoire, Saint-Brice-En-Coglès, Paimpont, Liffré, Le Rheu, La Mézière, Grand-Fougeray, Fougères, Chartres-De-Bretagne, Chantepie, Cesson-Sévigné, Bruz, Bédée, Montfort-Sur-Meu, Gosné, Redon, Saint-Gilles, Sixt, Poligné, Antrain, Tressé, Cuguen, Iffendic, Châteaugiron, Plerguer, Saint-Marc-Sur-Couesnon, Étrelles, Châteaubourg, Vezin-Le-Coquet, La Baussaine, Noyal-Sous-Bazouges, Saint-Benoît-Des-Ondes, Saint-Onen-La-Chapelle, Lanhélin, Meillac, Saint-Aubin-D'aubigné, Pleugueneuc, Romagné, Hédé, Parigné, Servon-Sur-Vilaine, Saint-Germain-En-Coglès, Le Vivier-Sur-Mer, Pancé, Bain-De-Bretagne, La Fontenelle, Torcé, Montours, Pacé, Champeaux, Vern-Sur-Seiche, Saint-Jean-Sur-Couesnon, Montgermont, Québriac, Janzé, Plesder, Dingé, Lohéac, Landéan, Chauvigné, Domloup, Saint-Domineuc, Billé, Lassy, Gahard, Coësmes, La Couyère, La Chapelle-Des-Fougeretz, Messac, Pipriac, Melesse, L'hermitage, Louvigné-De-Bais, Marcillé-Raoul, Saint-M'hervé, Eancé, Thourie, Mellé, Villamée, Sougéal, Crevin, La Bazouge-Du-Désert, Betton, La Chapelle-De-Brain, La Chapelle-Chaussée, Acigné, Laillé, Vendel, Guichen, La Chapelle-Saint-Aubert, Montreuil-Le-Gast, Saint-Rémy-Du-Plain, Pléchâtel, Baulon, Beaucé, Gaël, Feins, Louvigné-Du-Désert, Le Theil-De-Bretagne, Talensac, La Nouaye, Saint-Sauveur-Des-Landes, Quédillac, Guignen, Lécousse, Domagné, Essé, Le Châtellier, Chavagne, La Guerche-de-Bretagne, Saint-Thurial, Le Verger, Bourg-des-Comptes, Comblessac, Saint-Georges-de-Reintembault, La Bouëxière, Médréac, Dourdan, Saint-Méen-le-Grand, Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine, Ercé-en-Lamée, Retiers, Combourtillé, Goven, Dompierre-du-Chemin, Romillé, Mouazé, Martigné-Ferchaud, Guipry, Saint-Étienne-en-Coglès, Piré-sur-Seiche, Bécherel, Monthault, Renac, Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, Treffendel, Le Tiercent, Ercé-près-Liffré, Chancé, Clayes, Montreuil-sur-Ille, Thorigné-Fouillard.

For the broader travel overview: Brittany.