Guichen can be discovered from different perspectives: hiking trails lead into the countryside, while geological and architectural details offer their own points of interest. Pont-Réan adds preserved mills and seasonal water activities. When planning, you can decide whether you’d rather spend your time hiking, exploring natural history, or discovering architectural heritage.
Hiking Around Guichen and Pont-Réan
Guichen-Pont-Réan maintains seven hiking trails for exploring the countryside around Guichen and Pont-Réan. The Pont-Réan–Le Boël circular trail passes through the 300-hectare Boël Valley, following towpaths and winding narrow paths through a densely wooded landscape. This gives you a choice of trails around both towns, as well as one route with a specifically described valley and woodland character. Trail conditions may change, so check the conditions on your chosen route before setting out.
Geology and Trilobites
The Carrière des Landes has been a protected and classified geological site in Guichen since January 10, 1966. Guichen’s trilobite fossils offer another perspective on local geology: they date from the Ordovician, more than 460 million years ago. The trilobite fossil Guichenia was named after Guichen. Together, these offer two distinct points of interest: a protected geological site and the local history behind a fossil’s name.
Mills and Architectural History in Pont-Réan and Guichen
The mill at Pont-Réan preserves 19th-century mills in a group of buildings arranged approximately in the shape of a Greek cross. Both the mills’ age and the approximate arrangement of the buildings define the appearance of the complex.
The Church of Saint-Martin in Guichen was built in the Neoclassical style and features notable elements of architecture and interior furnishings. A small bell in the lantern tower bears the date 1462. The architectural style and this dated detail provide different points of interest: the architecture and furnishings on the one hand, and the date on a single bell on the other.
Water Activities on the Vilaine
In Pont-Réan, the canoe and kayak club rents out stand-up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats. Canoe, kayak, and paddleboarding trips start at the Pont-Réan lock keeper’s house and travel upstream. Renting and taking a trip are different ways to enjoy the water: rentals include various types of watercraft, while the trips have a specified starting point and direction upstream. Rentals are seasonal, and availability may vary. Check in advance whether your preferred rental option is offered on your dates.
The Cale de Pont-Réan landing stage has a launch area for water sports. It is used by walkers, cyclists, joggers, kayakers, and mountain bikers. The description of the area therefore includes not only water sports but also routes for walking, cycling, and jogging.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Méen-le-Grand, Vezin-Le-Coquet, Noyal-Sous-Bazouges, Mouazé, Plerguer, Saint-Onen-La-Chapelle, Poligné, Saint-Benoît-Des-Ondes
For the regional travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
