Baguer-Pican offers a specific walking route and several distinct cultural and historical themes to help you plan your trip. The Circuit de la Mancelière starts at the car park by the church in Baguer-Pican and leads to the Chapelle Saint-Gilles near La Mancelière. Other points of interest range from a wayside cross and a historic manor house to a painting in the church of Saint-Martin. This may help you decide whether to focus your stay on walking, religious history, architecture or an equestrian activity.
Walking the Circuit de la Mancelière
The Circuit de la Mancelière is an easy 11.1-kilometre walking route, with an estimated duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes. It starts at the car park by the church in Baguer-Pican and leads to the Chapelle Saint-Gilles near La Mancelière. The estimated walking time gives you a framework for planning your day. Check practical trail conditions before setting out, as route details may change.
Part of the route follows a Roman road and passes through several wetlands, which are considered ecological treasures. Ground conditions may vary depending on the season. The route thus brings together two distinct themes: a historic thoroughfare and wetlands whose ecological value is part of the route description.
The Chapelle Saint-Gilles near La Mancelière is the third chapel to stand at this site; the present building was rebuilt in 1790. A historical tradition recalls Saint Giles' Day on 1 September: children were brought to the chapel to be blessed for protection from fear. This is a traditional practice from the past, not a statement about celebrations today.
Choiseul is another point of interest along the route. A monument there commemorates 15,000 victims of the Battle of Dol-de-Bretagne. The site adds the remembrance of a battle to the religious and landscape themes.
Chapels, a Manor House and Art
The Chapelle Saint-Gilles should not be confused with the chapel of the Manoir de la Mancellière. The manor house was built around 1500. Its chapel may have been rebuilt after 1812, reusing the west portal. This tentative dating relates to this building and should be distinguished from the confirmed information that the Chapelle Saint-Gilles was rebuilt in 1790.
Another religious landmark is La Croix Badet: this liturgical cross was erected in 1955 to bless the fields. The church of Saint-Martin also houses the painting “Mise au tombeau.” It is a copy of José de Ribera’s “La Déposition du Christ” and was donated by the state in 1876. The dates span the manor house’s architectural history, the chapels, and later expressions of religious practice and art.
Equestrian Activities as Another Option
Les Écuries de la Mancelière welcomes visitors in Baguer-Pican. Its offerings include trail rides, lessons, competitions and leisure activities. It caters to riders aged two and up, from beginners to experienced riders, for leisure or competition. This range describes the offering for different experience levels; it does not guarantee that every activity is equally suitable for everyone. As the programme and availability may change, check in advance for current visitor options and the specific activities on offer.
You can therefore plan your day around different priorities: the walking route has a stated distance and estimated walking time, while equestrian activities have a separate programme. If you are planning a stay, you can first decide which of these activities matters to you and set aside an appropriate amount of time. The heritage themes also offer a way to explore the area’s architectural and religious history, without conflating them with the equestrian programme or estimated walking time.
Discover more destinations: L'hermitage, Villamée, Saint-Jean-Sur-Couesnon, Saint-Pern, La Gouesnière, Guichen, Bourg-des-Comptes, Montours.
For the wider travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
