Plédran combines signposted trails and woodland with a rich history of buildings and local life. A five-kilometre hiking trail runs around the town; the Bois de Plédran covers 132 hectares of woodland and has its own two-kilometre circular trail with activities for families. Chapelle de Créhac, Château de Craffault, La Roche Cadio, the Menhir de la Touche-Bude and Pont Chéra also offer different cultural highlights.

Forest trails with different features

La coulée verte is a fully signposted five-kilometre hiking trail around Plédran. The route in the Bois de Plédran is shorter, at two kilometres, and forms a loop; it also has activities for families. The two trails therefore differ in both length and character: one is a longer hiking route around the town, while the other is a shorter, family-oriented loop through the forest.

The Bois de Plédran covers 132 hectares. This figure refers to the woodland area, while the two kilometres indicate the length of the circular trail. When choosing which trails to include in your stay, you can therefore consider two specific features: the longer signposted hiking route or the shorter loop with activities. Both offer different ways to include Plédran’s natural surroundings in your travel plans.

Chapelle de Créhac: Ground and History

The entire floor of Chapelle de Créhac is made up of old tombstones. Crosses are carved in relief into the granite. The tombstone flooring is therefore a distinctive architectural feature of the chapel. It was this flooring that was partially protected as a historic monument by a decree dated 17 December 1926.

The chapel’s former affiliations are also part of its history: it was once a commandery of the Knights Templar and later of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Order of Malta. The floor and the history of the orders offer two different ways to explore the site—through a preserved architectural feature and through the institutions associated with the chapel.

Château de Craffault: Different Building Periods

Different periods of construction can be distinguished at Château de Craffault. The right-hand section of the main building’s façade was built in the 16th century, while the left-hand section dates from the 17th century. The pavilion containing the main staircase probably dates from the 15th century. This dating is not certain, but is described as probable; the two sections of the façade and the pavilion therefore represent different historical periods.

The protected features are also specified: the residential building, the moats and the foundations of the gatehouse were protected as historic monuments by a decree dated 9 May 1990. The château can thus be explored both through its architectural divisions and through the specific features designated for protection.

Gallery and Menhir

Other historic monuments in Plédran include the covered gallery of La Roche Cadio and the Menhir de la Touche-Bude. La Roche Cadio was classified as a historic monument by a decree dated 22 July 1964. The menhir received the same classification on 29 June 1965. These two historic sites represent different forms of local heritage and add further tangible examples to the histories of the chapel and château.

Pont Chéra and the Former Road Link

Pont Chéra consists of two masonry arches resting on a stone pier and is characteristic of the Gallo-Roman period. The former road connecting Aleth (“Saint-Malo”) and Vorgium (“Carhaix”) crossed the Urne over the bridge. Pont Chéra thus brings together two aspects: its described architectural form and its former role as a crossing on a road between the two named places.

Plédran offers a choice of nature- and heritage-focused activities for your trip. The trail lengths and family activities highlight the differences between the two routes; the historic sites, in turn, can be distinguished by their architecture, former functions and respective heritage classifications. You can shape your stay around the themes that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Tonquédec, Gurunhuel, Trévéneuc, Matignon, Pleubian, Treffrin, Aucaleuc, Plouzélambre

For the regional travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.