Explore Rieux through two main themes: the Circuit du Val de Vilaine and its landscapes, and the history of the town from antiquity to the rebuilding of the parish church. Historic buildings and the river views at the Escale Nautique round out the picture. You can shape your trip around the landscape, architecture or local history.
The Circuit du Val de Vilaine
The Circuit du Val de Vilaine starts at the Kadudal car park, at the top of Rue du Château. It passes through open agricultural landscapes, forests and the Vilaine marshes. Around Tréfin, it runs through pine forests and heathland. The name Tréfin derives from the Gallo-Roman expression “tre(s) fin,” meaning “boundaries” or “border areas.” The landscape and the place name thus offer two perspectives on the Tréfin section: its natural environment and a linguistic trace of its history.
The circuit also follows an old Roman road that linked Vannes and Angers via Rieux, when the town was called Durétie. Rieux was already known in antiquity as Duretie. This means the route can be understood not only through its landscapes, but also through the history of the roads. If you are particularly interested in historic connections, this offers a distinct way to explore the circuit.
Château and historic sites
An interpretive trail with information panels tells the story of the Château de Rieux. The château ruins were restored in 1998. The Château de Rieux and its surroundings have been designated a classified site since 12 October 1971. The section of the Roman road at Kermaria, together with its surroundings in Rieux, has also been designated a classified site since that date.
The parish church of Saint-Melaine stands in the town centre; its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. It was built in the 17th century and partly destroyed in the last war. The rebuilt church was inaugurated on 23 September 1956. Its Latin cross floor plan describes its architecture, while its construction, destruction and rebuilding mark the successive stages of its history.
The Couvent des Trinitaires is another testament to the town’s history. Jean Ier de Rieux founded it on 16 January 1345; its west wing still survives. While the circuit links landscapes and historic roads, Saint-Melaine is notable for its architectural form and rebuilding, and the convent for its founding and surviving west wing.
River views and local culture
The Escale Nautique is situated on the Vilaine opposite the château and offers views of the river. This adds the riverside landscape as another point of interest alongside the historic buildings. The Boucelaye serves a different purpose: after being renovated, it became a venue for weddings, receptions, banquets, family gatherings, seminars and exhibitions.
In Rieux, you can choose from a range of themes: the circuit and its landscapes and old Roman road, the architectural history of the château and parish church, or local history, also reflected in the Couvent des Trinitaires and the name Tréfin.
Discover more destinations: Marzan, Cournon, Melrand, Billiers, Pluméliau, Pluvigner, Muzillac, Plouay.
For the broader travel overview: Morbihan.
