In Bonnemain, striking examples of architectural history meet a pond with seasonal fishing conditions and a designated hiking route. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you are mainly interested in historic buildings, nature at Étang de La Sablonnière or a tour. An annual storytelling walk is also part of the local programme.

Watermill and church architecture

The Moulin à eau de La Chaise dates from the 16th century and is one of the oldest watermills still visible in the Ille-et-Vilaine département. Its granite-built weir has been preserved. Nearby is a small structure classified as a fishery; the waterwheel has been removed. At the mill, the focus is therefore on the preserved weir and its architectural history.

The present-day parish church of Saint-Martin, Saint-Samson was rebuilt from 1883 onwards. It is designed in the Neo-Gothic style and has a Latin-cross ground plan and ribbed vaults. These features offer several architectural points of reference: the style, the cross-shaped ground plan and the design of the vaults.

Another older architectural feature can be found at the entrance to the present-day cemetery: the portal of the former church enclosure was rebuilt there. It dates from the 14th century. Together with the parish church, rebuilt from 1883 onwards, it represents two different building periods; the portal now stands in a different place from where it originally served as part of the enclosure.

Bonnemain also has a significant ensemble of monumental crosses. The Croix de La Ville Blanche is a granite wayside cross with a recessed figure niche. The Croix de La Haute Barbotaie is dated 1541 and is considered the oldest cross in Bonnemain. The two crosses can therefore be distinguished by different features: at La Ville Blanche, the material and niche shape its appearance; at La Haute Barbotaie, the date and its standing in the village are defining features.

Étang de La Sablonnière and Circuit des Étangs

Étang de La Sablonnière covers 4.3 hectares. For eight months of the year, from early October to the end of May, it is reserved for fly fishing; in summer, all forms of fishing are permitted. Check the current local conditions before your trip. The pond is also home to dragonflies, great crested grebes, mallards and coots. Fishing and wildlife are thus two different ways to experience the same place.

For a hike, the Circuit des Étangs is one specific option: the route is 9 km long and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. It passes through the Domaine des Ormes, a tourist complex with a golf course, campsite, tree houses, hotel and equestrian centre. If you plan to use the complex’s facilities, check the individual services before your trip.

Getting here and local activities

Bonnemain is served by the TER BreizhGo line Rennes–Montreuil-sur-Ille–Dol-de-Bretagne–Saint-Malo and is one of 14 stations served daily. Check the current timetable before travelling. Bonnemain’s events committee organises a storytelling walk every year; confirm the current programme when planning your trip.

This gives you a choice of different focuses for your stay: architectural history with the mill, church and crosses; the pond with its seasonal fishing conditions; or the hike to the Domaine des Ormes. The route and duration provide a guide to how long the Circuit des Étangs takes; it is worth checking the pond’s seasonal conditions and the storytelling walk programme in advance. This lets you plan your visit around the topics that interest you most in Bonnemain.

Discover more destinations: Châteaubourg, Le Tronchet, La Boussac, Gosné, La Fontenelle, Ercé-en-Lamée, Pancé, Montgermont.

For the regional travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.