A Romanesque abbey church built from iron-rich sandstone, a historic calvary and a forest with a flooded quarry give Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois a distinctive character, combining heritage and nature. When planning your trip, it is worth choosing a focus in advance: church architecture and local history lead to different discoveries than the trails and activities around Bernugat.
Abbey church and historic buildings
The abbey church of Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois is a listed historic monument. Built in the late 12th century, it is a Romanesque structure that followed the rules of the Benedictine order. The iron-rich sandstone known as “roussard” was used in its construction. Guided and self-guided visits are available; check the opening details before your trip. This will allow you to include the visit in your plans and, once there, consider the architectural style, the order’s rules and the building material as distinct aspects of the structure.
Next to the choir of the abbey church stands Le Fruitier, a building dating from 1890 that now serves as an exhibition space for artists. It adds a different use to the religious architecture: the focus here is not only on the building’s history, but also on its current role as an exhibition space.
Agricultural history and the Calvaire de Bernugat
The Ferme Ecole was founded in 1849 and trained hundreds of young people in agriculture for 25 years. It later became a business producing milk, butter and cheese; its products were sold in several European countries. The chapel is also part of this history: trainees and stonemasons helped restore it. The eight-metre-high spire was erected in 2009.
Another trace of history leads to the Calvaire de Bernugat. The parish priest of Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois had it built on the heights of Bernugat in 1886. Three crosses were erected there on 22 October of that year. Today, a statue of the “Ecce Homo” stands where one of the former crosses once stood. The sequence of construction, crosses and statue also makes the calvary interesting for travellers who want to explore other evidence of local history alongside the abbey church.
Bernugat: forest, trails and routes
The 96-hectare Bernugat forest includes a fitness trail and games for children. Trails wind through a pine forest, and there are also places to picnic. A quarry that has been refilled with water adds a distinctive landscape feature: blue water lies alongside ochre-coloured rocks. Bernugat therefore offers a choice of interests, from physical activity to peaceful time outdoors.
The Circuit des Pins is an easy 3.6-kilometre circular route, with a stated duration of 36 minutes. Beyond the flooded quarry, the route offers views of the abbey church tower and the Saint-Nazaire bridge in good weather. The Circuit de la Croix-Rouge has a different landmark: at the Four des MĂ©tairies, you can stop and enjoy a panoramic view over the commune of Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois. The routes therefore differ in the details that can help you choose: the Circuit des Pins is described by its circular format, difficulty, length and duration, while the Circuit de la Croix-Rouge highlights a scenic stop.
The Bernugat orienteering course offers formats involving a compass, stars, finding markers and scoring points. There are 20 markers in total, spread across three locations. The different formats offer various ways to explore orienteering and navigation, without requiring you to take part in just one type of activity.
What to consider when looking for accommodation
Les Jardins de St Gildas also offers direct sales to private customers.
Discover more destinations: Château-Thébaud, Quilly, Les Touches, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, Sion-Les-Mines, Corsept, Batz-Sur-Mer, Anetz
For the broader travel guide: Loire-Atlantique.
