In Saint-Thurial, local history and two walks offer distinct ways to explore. The story spans what is probably the oldest settlement core, the building phases of the church and chapel, and the history of a water reservoir for Rennes. For the walks, specific durations and different difficulty levels can help you choose.

A village center with layers from different periods

The village center began to develop around an older core in the mid-19th century. This was located west of the parish church and the Le Herme manor house, and south of the La Motte manor house. The oldest traces of settlement are probably found in this area. The village can therefore be understood as having grown around an existing core, rather than the history of its center being reduced to a single building phase.

The parish church also reflects a later change: the present building was completely renovated in the first half of the 19th century. The Chapelle de la Poulnais is privately owned. It was rebuilt in 1908 on the site of a larger predecessor; historical studies date the earlier building to the beginning of the 17th century.

The building histories can be clearly distinguished: the parish church underwent a comprehensive renovation of the present building, while the chapel was rebuilt on the site of an older, larger predecessor. The dates place these phases in time without combining them into a single development.

Rock carvings and water engineering

A different kind of historical trace can be found at the Grotte aux sorciers in the Vallée du Rohuel. Carved marks are present on the rocks, but they have not been dated. This sets them apart from the building history of the church and chapel: time periods can be identified for those buildings, while the marks remain undated.

The Barrage de la Chèze adds a more recent infrastructure story to the history of the area. The dam was built in 1974 and 1975 to create a water reservoir for the city of Rennes. Its purpose offers a different perspective from the development of the village center or the history of the religious buildings: here, the focus is on water supply.

Comparing two walks

For a walk, you can choose between the Circuit du Rocher Vert n°142 and the Circuit du Chemin à la Dame n°140. The Circuit du Rocher Vert is classified as an easy walking route and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Circuit du Chemin à la Dame is a very easy walking route and takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The stated walking times differ by just five minutes; the difficulty ratings show a more noticeable difference. If duration is your main consideration, the two routes are very similar. If the stated difficulty matters more to your choice, the Circuit du Chemin à la Dame is rated very easy, while the Circuit du Rocher Vert is rated easy.

The routes therefore offer a clear choice between two similar time commitments and two different difficulty ratings. Alongside the area’s varied historical themes, they let you explore Saint-Thurial according to the focus of your stay: through its local development and building history, or on a walk with a clearly stated duration.

Discover more destinations: Guignen, Saint-Pierre-De-Plesguen, Saint-Benoît-Des-Ondes, La Chapelle-Des-Fougeretz, Sougéal, Pleugueneuc, Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine, Paimpont

Return to the main travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.