Since 1989, Bécherel has been France’s first Cité du Livre. Book culture, historic buildings and gardens offer different ways to explore the town. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to time your trip around a book event or focus on architecture and landscapes.
Town fortifications and historic houses
The fortified town retains an almost continuous stretch of just under 500 metres. It dates mainly from the second half of the 14th century and the first quarter of the 15th century. The Maison du Gouverneur adds a later chapter: this house from the late 16th century has a dressed-stone façade with Renaissance pilasters. The Maison de la Filanderie is a former 16th-century cloth merchant’s house; its half-timbered façade is decorated with fern motifs. Their construction dates, façade materials and ornamentation offer different ways to discover Bécherel through its architecture.
The Prieuré Notre-Dame also reveals several distinct building phases. The bell-tower porch dates from the 17th century; the present-day church was rebuilt in 1866 under the direction of Jacques Mellet. The Lavoir de la Couaille was built in the 19th century on the site of an older washhouse. Flax grown locally was once bleached there. These buildings connect the town’s history with a range of former uses and cannot be reduced to a single century.
Book culture and event dates
The Cité du Livre is home to around 15 bookshops, two calligraphers and illuminators, and a bookbinding workshop. It also includes publishers, illustrators, artists and craftspeople. These figures are approximate and may change over time. The Maison du Livre has an exhibition space, workshop rooms and an auditorium for conferences, readings and performances; its programme may vary. Plume & Or offers demonstrations, courses and workshops in Latin calligraphy and illumination in Bécherel and Rennes, as well as on request. Availability of these activities may change.
The Marché du livre takes place from March to December on the first Sunday of each month. The Fête du Livre is held every Easter weekend, with exhibitions, a book market, author meetings, workshops, performances, concerts, readings and film screenings. Every summer, in early August, the Nuit du Livre de Bécherel follows as a festive evening event. La Fureur de lire is a national book event held in Bécherel in October. The dates therefore fall at different times of year: before travelling, check the exact market date or the current programme of the festival you are interested in.
Gardens, a pond and views
The Jardin du Thabor offers a green retreat in the heart of Bécherel. The terraced Jardin de l’ancien couvent has a different character, adapted to the hillside and valued for its landscape. At the Étang de la Teinture, landscaped banks provide a walking route around the pond and an educational trail through a wetland. The Promenade du chemin de ronde offers views over the expansive landscapes around Bécherel. Alongside buildings and bookshops, gardens, water and landscape views thus offer different themes for your visit.
Getting there and planning your stay
Bécherel Centre stop is served by STAR route 82 and BreizhGo route 7. Check routes and timetables before travelling. If a market or festival is important to your trip, also check its exact date and the current programme. You can then choose your stay dates to match your interests: a regular monthly market, Easter weekend, the summer evening event in early August or the book event in October.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Treffendel, Le Vivier-Sur-Mer, Champeaux, Saint-Jacques-De-La-Lande, Saint-Lunaire, Bonnemain, La Fresnais, Comblessac
For the broader travel guide: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
