Saint-Gilles brings together architectural history, megalithic heritage and distinctive landscapes. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these themes separately: the parish church and Manoir de Cacé represent different building phases, Pierre Blanche links menhirs with the course of an old road, and the Eco-Valley has its own distinct extent. This allows you to tailor your stay to whichever aspect interests you most.
Church, priory and manor house
A Benedictine priory is documented in Saint-Gilles in 1152. The parish church was rebuilt in the second half of the 15th century; the choir and transept were rebuilt in 1837. These dates do not refer to the same scope: the first concerns the rebuilding of the parish church, while the second specifically concerns the choir and transept. Another architectural trace leads to Manoir de Cacé. Its chapel was restored in 1771. The manor house has many similarities to Manoir de La Porte, a former manor house dating from the 15th century. Chronologically, the chapel's restoration falls between the two dates associated with the church. Saint-Gilles therefore offers several historical points of reference for comparison: a priory in the 12th century, the rebuilding of the parish church in the late Middle Ages, and later works and restorations to specifically identified parts of buildings. For architecture enthusiasts, this shows a development spanning centuries rather than a single, isolated construction date.
Pierre Blanche and the old road
Pierre Blanche is one of Saint-Gilles's best-known megalithic sites. The menhirs helped identify an old road west of the commune; it ran from Bouculan in the north of Saint-Gilles to La Guicharderie in the south of the commune. So this is not only a megalithic site, but also a specific historic route. This differs from the building dates associated with the church and Manoir de Cacé: at Pierre Blanche, the focus is on the link between the menhirs and the identification of an older route.
The Eco-Valley and the path around the municipal pond
The Saint-Gilles Eco-Valley covers 22 hectares. It links Étang du Guichalet with the Côtardière stream and passes through Bois du Grand Domaine and Pâtis Guineheux, among other places. The area and the named locations provide different reference points: the figure of 22 hectares describes the extent of the valley, while the names specify its connections between bodies of water and other landscape areas. A separate length figure applies to the 1.2 km walking path around the municipal pond. The number of hectares describes the extent of the Eco-Valley, while the kilometre figure refers to the length of the path. Check temporary access conditions for the walking path locally.
Cultural programme and connections
The Saint-Gilles municipal cultural season takes place at Sabot d'Or. Unlike building phases, which can be placed in a long-term historical context, the programme follows changing seasonal dates. Check the current dates before your trip if you would like to plan your visit around an event. Eight bus routes and school transport connect Saint-Gilles with neighbouring communes. For a specific journey, it is advisable to check the current services, as transport options may change.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Marcan, Saint-Aubin-D'aubigné, Saint-Georges-De-Gréhaigne, Bourg-des-Comptes, Le Tronchet, Mont-Dol, La Chapelle-Aux-Filtzméens, Cancale
For the wider travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
