Saint-Gilles-Vieux-Marché offers routes on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback, destinations by the water, and historic buildings from different periods. When planning, you can treat outdoor activities, culture and the annual Pardon as separate highlights.
Routes and Timing
There are numerous routes to explore on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. For a specific timeframe, Le Tour des étangs is a good option: the route is 7.9 kilometres long, rated moderate and listed as taking an estimated two hours. The difficulty and duration may vary depending on conditions.
Le Tour des étangs starts at the car park by the church. Before setting off, check the trail markings and local access rules. This gives you both a starting point and an estimated time for your planning, without treating the stated duration as a fixed walking time.
Two Ponds, Different Highlights
Etang de Poulancre covers seven hectares. Fishing there is managed by the fishing association. If fishing is part of your plans, check the current conditions locally. Etang de la Martyre is a water reservoir created in the Middle Ages and was built as a pike reservoir.
The two bodies of water therefore differ in the themes associated with them: Poulancre is also about managed fishing, while Martyre is about its history as a reservoir and its purpose as a pike reservoir. This distinction can help you choose the right focus rather than assuming both places offer the same experience.
Churches, Chapel and Fountain
Église Saint-Gilles was rebuilt from 1894 to 1896. It contains old statues as well as modern stained-glass windows depicting Saint Gildas and Saint Yves. Its furnishings thus include both older statues and modern windows.
Chapelle Saint-Yves was almost completely rebuilt in the 18th century and houses a significant altarpiece from the same century. Fontaine de St Gilles Vieux Marché is made of granite and slate. It was probably built at the same time as the former church, in 1585.
The menhir at Les Champs de Callac dates from the Neolithic period and has been classified as a historic monument since 26 February 1974. It is privately owned; check in advance whether access is possible. The menhir’s great age and its protected status are two distinct aspects to bear in mind when considering the site.
The Pardon de Saint Gilles
The Pardon de Saint Gilles takes place every year on the last Sunday in August or the first Sunday in September; the exact date varies. The annual Pardon includes a communal meal, whose menu and organisation may change. The 2025 event featured a musical meal followed by a traditional auction. Future programmes may be different.
For travel planning, the route and the event offer different timeframes: Le Tour des étangs is estimated to take two hours, while the Pardon takes place each year on one of two possible Sundays. If you are planning your holiday rental search around the festival, check the exact date of the event you wish to attend.
Discover more destinations: Pleumeur-Bodou, Binic, Fréhel, Perros-Guirec, Saint-Bihy, Le Vieux-Marché, Saint-Agathon, Le Gouray
Return to the regional travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
