Saint-Judoce combines hiking trails with a landscape of bocage, canal and farmland; at the same time, the area tells the story of several periods of Breton architectural history. Two highlights can help you plan your trip: a hike with a stated distance and estimated walking time, or trails that take in bridges, the old village centre and historic buildings.
Between the Linon, canal and bocage
The commune is bordered to the north by the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance and the Linon. The densest bocage landscape in Saint-Judoce lies along the northern canal; open farmland predominates in the centre and south. At Vieux-Bourg, the Linon is a shaded river course. Along the Circuit des 3 Villages, the Linon’s tranquil meanders come into view; nearby, a picnic table offers a pleasant place to rest.
Hiking trails with different landmarks
The Circuit du Linon starts at Saint-Judoce church. The trail is 14 km long, with an estimated walking time of 4 hours and 30 minutes. It reaches the towpath and passes a bridge into Vieux-Bourg.
The Circuit des 3 Villages crosses the metal bridge in Vieux-Bourg; from there, hikers can see the former church of Saint-Judoce. The Circuit du Vieux Bourg follows the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance for a long stretch and includes the old village centre. To choose between them, you can weigh the estimated walking time for the Circuit du Linon against the notable village and canal landmarks along the other two trails.
Churches from several centuries
The present-day Saint-Judoce church in Champ-Brossard was built between 1922 and 1923 to plans by the architect Arthur Regnault. It houses polychrome wooden statues of Saint Judoce and Saint Marguerite. It is also considered one of the few examples of 20th-century religious architecture in the Côtes-d’Armor department.
The former parish church of Saint-Judoce in Vieux-Bourg is mentioned as early as a donation charter from the mid-12th century and was largely rebuilt in the 14th century. Surviving architectural features include a west portal, an open bell turret topped by an openwork cross of four crescents, and a three-lobed tracery window in the choir. The south door bears a late-15th-century inscription: “DIEX PARDOINT A VILLECMER”. Since 10 November 1925, this south door has been protected as a Monument historique.
Manor houses and their history
The manor house of Champsavoy is considered representative of the manor houses built by the lesser nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries, owing to its location and surviving residential building. The estate was surrounded by moats; as late as the 1950s, one of them separated the courtyard of the residential building from the farmyard to the north. After being devastated during the Wars of the League, the manor house was rebuilt between the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The manor house of Fournet was completely rebuilt in the early 18th century in connection with the marriage of Pierre-Hyacinthe du Fournet and Marie-Melaine de Farcy on 11 February 1734. The estate includes an enclosed courtyard protected by moats, a chapel and farm buildings; a barn has survived. The entrance portal is considered an elegant and remarkable work of art and was probably made by the workshops of the Paimpont forges.
Discover more destinations: Plouagat, Pabu, Langrolay-Sur-Rance, Lezardrieux, Loguivy-Lès-Lannion, Plouaret, Trédaniel, Plougonver
For the regional travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
