Pontrieux offers several distinct historical themes for a cultural stay: a neoclassical church, a house dating from the late 15th century, a mill and sawmill building, and a former public fountain. There are also seasonal boat trips and the Fête des lavoirs. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the architectural heritage from activities with a fixed date or limited seasonal availability.
Architectural History on the Trieux
The Église Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines was built between 1840 and 1843 in the neoclassical style. The church as a whole is protected as a historic monument; it was listed on 8 October 2021.
La Maison dite la Tour Eiffel dates from the late 15th century and is considered an emblematic house. It marks the northern entrance to Pontrieux. Its rear entrance leads to a lookout post from which shipping on the Trieux was once monitored. The house from the late 15th century and the church built between 1840 and 1843 thus represent widely separated periods of construction.
Water, Mill and Fountain
Le Moulin du Richel adds an industrial dimension to this architectural history. Built in 1880, the building combines a mill and a sawmill. The water of the Trieux powered two separate wheels there: one for grinding grain, the other for sawing wood.
The granite Plomée fountain on Place Le Trocquer dates from the 18th century. In the past, the inhabitants of Pontrieux collected water there. While the water of the Trieux powered the mill and sawmill at the Moulin, the Plomée served the everyday need to fetch water.
Guided Tour, Festival and Seasonal Boat Trips
The guided tour “Petits secrets et grandes anecdotes à Pontrieux” lasts one hour. It covers the town’s history, important architectural features, local anecdotes and the concentration of washhouses. If you would like to explore these topics in one overview, check the date and booking conditions in advance; availability and conditions may change.
The Fête des lavoirs is scheduled for 15 August. Admission is free. The festival features bagadoù, dancers, musicians and washerwomen; a parade is scheduled for the afternoon. As the annual programme may change, check the date and programme details before your trip.
From June to September, the Nos Lavoirs association offers boat trips on Sundays and public holidays along a route planted and decorated by the association. Sailing days and operating conditions may also change; check the latest information in advance. The activities differ in when they are available: the guided tour lasts one hour, the festival is scheduled for a specific date, and the boat trips are tied to the season and certain days of the week.
Historic Train Ride
La Vapeur du Trieux is a historic train ride between Paimpol and Pontrieux. The train is pulled by a locomotive classified as a historic monument. If you would like to include the train ride in your travel plans, check the current timetable.
Discover more destinations: Laniscat, Saint-Michel-En-Grève, Runan, Saint-Carré, Quemper Guezennec, Locarn, Caurel, Plévenon.
For the wider travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
