A former gravel pit with wet woodland and a château with a fully protected park reveal two different sides of Bourg-des-Comptes. This suggests a practical question when choosing a place to stay: would you rather spend your time on nature trails and taking in the views, or exploring buildings and local history?
La Courbe and trails through the landscape
La Courbe is a protected natural area in Bourg-des-Comptes, managed by the department and open to the public. The former gravel pit includes marshy willow scrub and wet woodland. Bald cypresses also grow there, with above-ground root structures known as pneumatophores. La Courbe therefore brings together a variety of natural features: wet habitats and a striking form of tree root system.
La Courbe is accessed via Rue de la Visnonia; there is a car park and a footpath along the Vilaine. Check local conditions before setting out. The Circuit de la Réauté runs through a protected, species-rich natural area near La Courbe and passes the Menhir de Grand Tua. The menhir is also known as the Dent de Gargantua and is listed as a point of interest.
The menhir stands 30 metres southeast of the hamlet of Prégaudais. It is 4 metres high, 2.50 metres wide and 1 metre thick. The name Dent de Gargantua is linked to a local legend: while crossing the Vilaine valley, Gargantua is said to have lost his teeth along the Vilaine and in the surrounding countryside. This connects a specific point in the landscape with a traditional tale.
The Circuit des Biches offers another combination of landscape and history. It follows an old Roman road with visible shale outcrops. While the Circuit de la Réauté takes in the natural area near La Courbe and the menhir, the Circuit des Biches focuses on the Roman road and shale. The first stage of the GR39 runs for 13 kilometres from La Courbe in Bourg-des-Comptes to Le Boël. The Circuit du Boschet offers numerous viewpoints over the Vilaine valley and views of the Château du Boschet.
The château and church as cultural highlights
The Château du Boschet was built between 1660 and 1680. The entire château, its outbuildings and the whole park, including the courtyards, gardens, terraces and walls, are classified as a Monument historique. The château features a monumental staircase with white-stone balusters. Visits are possible year-round; check the visiting arrangements before your trip.
The present-day parish church of Notre-Dame was built in 1851 by the architect Charles-Louis Langlois. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; its architectural features also include a square entrance bell tower with a stone spire and a Neo-Gothic design. Another date in the church’s history is 1224, when Josselin de Montauban, Bishop of Rennes, handed the church over to the Abbey of Saint-Jacques de Montfort.
The château, church and menhir offer different ways to explore the area during a stay: the château’s protected historic fabric and monumental staircase, Notre-Dame’s layout and tower, and the menhir’s dimensions and legend. Together with the trails along the Vilaine, they can help you decide whether you want your trip to focus more on the landscape and routes, or on architecture and local history.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Saint-Rémy-Du-Plain, Bruc-Sur-Aff, Pleine-Fougères, La Chapelle-De-Brain, Lohéac, Le Minihic Sur Rance, Chancé, Tremblay.
For the regional travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
