Châteaubourg brings together a permanent sculpture trail, heritage, an annual exhibition, and landscapes of forest and water. If you want to include culture and nature in your travel plans, two distinct trail themes can help you find your way: sculpture along a signposted route, or a circular walk in the Forêt de la Corbière.
Art trails and heritage
The Parcours des Sculpteurs is a permanent, educational trail that runs through Châteaubourg. Stretching almost three kilometres, it features 30 information panels about the origins of sculpture, artistic movements, forms, materials and techniques, as well as sculptors. The trail thus combines a specific distance with insights into different aspects of sculpture.
Another way to discover art in Châteaubourg is the annual sculpture exhibition in Parc d’Ar Milin’, organised by the Les Entrepreneurs Mécènes association. While the Parcours des Sculpteurs is permanent, the exhibition takes place every year: the two offerings differ in both format and timing.
The built heritage also has several points of reference in time. The church in Châteaubourg, built by Arthur Regnault in 1893, is classified as a historic monument. Chapelle Sainte-Anne was built following a vow made during the Second World War and was completed in 1947.
Pilgrimage and recurring dates
Chapelle Sainte-Anne is associated with an annual pilgrimage. It takes place on the Sunday closest to 26 July. A procession is followed by an open-air Mass at the chapel. If you want to plan your trip around this event, the date’s connection to 26 July is key to your timing.
Forest, water and trails
The Forêt de la Corbière is a 630-hectare natural area belonging to the département, stretching across Châteaubourg, La Bouëxière, Marpiré and Saint-Jean-sur-Vilaine. You can explore it on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. A 3.6-kilometre discovery trail leads directly to a pond and its dam, near a former mill.
The sculpture trail’s nearly three kilometres and the circular walk’s 3.6 kilometres are similar in length, but lead to different themes: one focuses on sculpture and its background, while the other takes in a pond and dam in a forest landscape. The Vélo-Promenade route no. 5, “Les moulins,” also runs through landscapes of forest, ponds and streams.
Parc Pasteur lies in the town centre, bordered by the Vilaine. Châteaubourg therefore offers a centrally located riverside park and the Forêt de la Corbière, which stretches across several communes, as two distinct landscape settings.
For paddle sports, the Chateaubourg Canoë Kayak club offers recreational kayaking on rivers, on calm and white water, and at sea. The programme also includes canoe polo and introductions to other paddle sports.
Finding your way around Châteaubourg
Since January 2020, Châteaubourg has held the “Village Étape” label. Signs along the road point to local shops and services. This adds guidance for your stay in town to the cultural and landscape attractions.
When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the offerings by their character: the sculpture trail is permanent, the exhibition takes place annually, and the pilgrimage is held on the Sunday closest to 26 July. Forest trails, the park and paddle sports offer further options. This makes it easy to choose Châteaubourg based on your interest in art, heritage, a recurring event or the landscape.
Discover more destinations: Mellé, Les Iffs, Dingé, Laillé, Dinard, Liffré, La Ville-Ès-Nonais, Saint-Benoît-Des-Ondes.
For the broader travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
