Plougras brings together religious architecture, medieval history of lordship and the Goariva landscape. The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry and the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre differ both in their construction phases and in their details; the Motte castrale de Beffou adds a historical perspective. At the Site panoramique de Goariva, panoramic views and outdoor activities come together. The sites offer different points of interest to help you choose what to focus on.

Churches: building history and distinctive details

The churches’ different construction dates are the first thing to stand out. The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry was rebuilt in the late 16th and early 17th centuries; restorations followed in 1787 and 1788. The Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre was rebuilt earlier, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and restored in 1613. Their listings as historic monuments also have different dates: Saint-Pierre was listed on 22 March 1930, and Saint-Gonéry on 10 April 1981. Both listings were made by decree.

The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry has a Latin-cross floor plan, a single-nave layout and a flat-ended chancel. A Latin-cross floor plan describes the shape of the building’s plan; single-nave means that the nave has just one aisle. At the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre, by contrast, a detail in the eastern section catches the eye: a polychrome-decorated beam depicts Death carrying the deceased in a wheelbarrow. The scene is called Karrigell an Ankou. The portal also contains a 15th-century Pietà. The term Pietà refers to a depiction of Mary with the body of Christ.

The churches therefore have different points of emphasis: at Saint-Gonéry, the floor plan and architectural form take centre stage, while at Saint-Pierre, it is the sculptural details. This offers a concrete comparison between architecture and furnishings without conflating their different building histories.

Motte castrale de Beffou

The Motte castrale de Beffou is a motte-and-bailey castle dating to the 11th century and was the residence of the first lords of the Châtellenie de Beffou. Its role as a residence gives the site a place in local history of lordship. Remains of the substructures and a well are still visible on the platform. Access to the motte is free; check local conditions before travelling.

Goariva: panoramic views and activities

The 314 m summit of the Site panoramique de Goariva offers 360° panoramic views of Trégor, Léon and Cornouaille. These three named regions give the view a broad geographical scope. Two activities with different routes and durations are also based around Goariva.

The circular hiking route at the Site panoramique de Goariva is 3.5 km long and takes about an hour. The Chasse au trésor de la Vallée du Léguer – Sur la montagne de Goariva covers 4 km and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. In terms of distance and approximate duration, the hiking route is the shorter of the two activities. This makes it easy to choose between the two formats based on your preferred distance and time.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maudez, Plouëc-Du-Trieux, Pléven, Plouezec, Pléhédel, Trédrez-Locquémeau, Squiffiec, Saint-Juvat

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