Yvignac-La-Tour combines protected architectural heritage with green places to visit. At its chapels, church and château, specific structures and their history take center stage; at Jardin Polypodes, winding paths lead through a garden landscape filled with plants. There is also a peaceful spot by the water and a route through the countryside. You can choose your focus, whether architecture, gardens or scenery.
Protected structures and traces of Romanesque architecture
At the château, the tower and the beginning of the curtain wall are protected as elements of a historic monument under a decree dated October 9, 1964. At the Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lannouée, the protection applies to the choir: under a decree dated December 7, 1976, it has been protected as part of a historic monument. These dates refer to protection decisions for specifically named parts, not to when the structures were built.
The chapel at the Temple de Lannouée retains Romanesque elevations. Another architectural trace can be found at the former Templar commandery of La Nouée: a door and a window from the former chapel are set into the façade. These elements were protected as components of a historic monument by a decree dated May 20, 1930. Their origin in the former chapel makes the connection between the structures and their history tangible.
The Eglise Saint-Malo: Romanesque architecture and rebuilding
Five Romanesque bays survive inside the Eglise Saint-Malo. Between 1882 and 1884, the church was dismantled because of the risk of collapse and rebuilt faithfully to the original; it was also enlarged and raised at the same time. Preservation and change go hand in hand here: the rebuilding followed the original design, while the building's size and height changed. The five Romanesque bays are therefore a specific surviving feature within an architectural history that also includes later alterations.
Guided tours of the Eglise Saint-Malo, including access to the top of its 32-metre tower, may be available by reservation through the town hall. If this access is important for your visit, arrange your reservation with the town hall in advance. Reservation arrangements may change.
Garden paths, water and scenery
Jardin Polypodes includes a one-hectare, partly shaded landscape garden. Water, structures made of stone and iron, and numerous plant species shape its design. Winding paths lead visitors through a garden landscape rich in plants and sensory experiences. The focus is not on individual buildings, but on the interplay of paths, plants and different design elements.
Étang de Kerneuf offers a peaceful, green place where visitors can take a break. Circuit des Templiers has a different character: the route passes through a landscape where wind turbines, woodland and the countryside meet. The garden, the waterside spot and the route appeal to different interests; the features described here offer practical guidance when choosing what to focus on.
Behind the church stands a hollow yew tree, called the “if des records” in the January 2024 municipal bulletin. Le Grand Chemin also links a local name with a special event: the bulletin describes it as a costumed walk established in 1992 that connects Yvignac with Dinan during each Fête des Remparts. Check the current festival program if you would like to include this event in your trip.
Discover more destinations: Plouëc-Du-Trieux, Plerin, Larmor-Pleubian, La Roche-Derrien, Meslin, Saint-Lormel, Belle-Isle-En-Terre, Hengoat.
For the broader travel guide: Côtes-D’armor.
