In Bois Renou, you can choose between two different courses: a 2.5-kilometre star-shaped orienteering course and a 1.5-kilometre environmental discovery course about animals and trees. Before setting out, download the appropriate map and print it in A4 landscape format. If you are planning a specific visit, check the course details on site.
Outdoors in Bois Renou
The two course lengths have different focuses: the shorter discovery course explores animals and trees, while the longer orienteering course follows a star-shaped route. You can choose according to your interests and the stated distance. Another option is mountain bike circuit No. 5, “Les Conquérants,” which passes through Bois Renou. For the Grotte de la Vierge, the circuit recommends a detour on foot. It offers scenery between the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the Rance Valley. Check the route and signage before setting out, as conditions and wayfinding may change.
Church, grotto and Bonaban
The parish church of Notre-Dame was rebuilt in the 17th century. Permission for the reconstruction was requested in 1660; the solemn consecration took place on 31 August 1664. The remarkable altarpiece of the high altar was commissioned in 1666, two years after the consecration. The side altars feature two marble statues by the Genoese sculptor Francesco Maria Schiaffino. For access to the church interior, observe the municipal closure notice.
In Bois Renou, the Grotte de la Vierge houses a statue of the Virgin Mary. Another reminder of the area's history is the tomb chapel of the Level family, built in 1866. In Bonaban, there is also an old banal mill near the presbytery.
The Château de Bonaban is privately owned. Its architectural features include towers at each corner, an eleven-bay façade, a seigneurial dovecote and an oratory. Saint-Malo's 2025 tourism programme offered guided tours of the interiors and grounds by reservation, as well as self-guided visits to the grounds. Check the current access arrangements before visiting.
The “Mémoires Saint-Patrick” association promotes the remembrance of Saint Patrick. It links this to Bannavem Tiburniae, where Patrick is said to have lived in the 5th century; the place became Bonaban and is now part of La Gouesnière. This historical tradition provides a distinct point of interest alongside the area's buildings and courses.
Activities with schedules of their own
The Écuries du Moulin offer riding lessons and trail rides for children and adults. The centre also offers courses lasting half a day, a day or a week. As course formats may change, check the current arrangements directly with the centre.
During school holidays, Garance et Mélusine runs short workshops on making dreamcatchers, weaving and plant-based dyeing. Confirm the dates before visiting. Musique Ensemble offers music lessons for children, young people and adults of all skill levels. Individual lessons are available for guitar, bass and ukulele; other instruments may be available on request. Check participation and availability with the association.
Plan your journey and stay
The Rennes–Saint-Malo railway line crosses the northern part of La Gouesnière for four kilometres. If you are planning to travel by train, check current passenger services separately. For the rest of your planning, the local information points to several distinct interests: orienteering and nature topics in Bois Renou, the building history and sculpture of Notre-Dame, and the architecture of the Château de Bonaban.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Méen-le-Grand, Le Verger, Chavagne, Comblessac, Coësmes, Talensac, Plerguer, Saint-Sauveur-Des-Landes.
For the broader travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
