L’aparté, a contemporary art venue, is located by Lac de Trémelin in Iffendic. The destination can also be explored through its landscapes, leisure activities and cultural sites: forest and heathland sit alongside a lake, while art sits alongside archaeological traces and historic glass.
Landscapes on different scales
The Domaine de Trémelin covers more than 220 hectares, including a large forest, heathland and a lake. The Vallon de la Chambre au Loup extends over 70 hectares of heathland and wooded areas. The Domaine de Careil covers 96 hectares and lies on a bird migration route where many birds stop to rest. The landscapes therefore differ in character as well as in area: Trémelin is larger than the other two areas, while Careil falls between Trémelin and the Vallon in size. At Careil, bird migration defines the natural setting; heathland and wooded areas characterise the Vallon.
Activities and planning your time
The Trémelin leisure centre offers a treetop adventure course, water sports and mini golf. The availability of individual activities may vary seasonally, which is worth bearing in mind when planning a visit. The “Le tour du lac” trail also offers a specific time estimate: it is five kilometres long and takes about one hour and 30 minutes. This is an approximate duration; together with the route length, it provides a guide for planning your time without specifying an exact visit duration.
Art and history
Throughout the year, L’aparté presents works by artists in free public exhibitions, both indoors and outdoors. Its year-round cultural programme is open to the general public and includes talks, workshops and guided tours. In addition to the exhibitions, visitors can explore contemporary art through a range of formats.
The permanent exhibition “Souviens-toi Trémelin” can be seen at the viewpoint by the lake in Iffendic. It explores the history of the site. The Church of Saint-Eloi offers a different historical focus: its building appears to date from the 15th and 16th centuries. The apse contains a stained-glass window created in 1542, depicting the main scenes from the life of Christ. The tentative dating of the church building and the precisely dated window are two distinct historical details.
The Domaine de Boutavent is a publicly accessible archaeological site shaped by the remains of a former feudal castle. Information panels help visitors understand the site. Boutavent is open free of charge all year round; check for possible temporary restrictions before travelling. Its archaeological traces thus add another perspective on the site’s former use to the themes of art and the church.
Choose a focus for your trip
For a short trip, it helps not to combine the different themes into a fixed itinerary. The landscape areas vary in size and character, while the approximate duration of the trail gives a clearer idea of how long an activity may take. Art enthusiasts can find year-round exhibitions and a public cultural programme at L’aparté, while the permanent exhibition by the lake, the church and the Domaine de Boutavent offer further ways to explore the area’s history. When choosing your destination and accommodation, you can start by deciding on a focus, then consider which of these themes matter most for your stay.
Discover more destinations: La Nouaye, Vezin-Le-Coquet, Le Vivier-Sur-Mer, Le Theil-De-Bretagne, Montours, Montfort-Sur-Meu, Pancé, Saint-Germain-En-Coglès.
View the wider travel guide: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
