Saint-Tudy Chapel in Pleuven

Who would have thought that this modest, little-known chapel, tucked away in the countryside, harbours such treasures of religious art: a 17th-century high altar featuring a painting of the Holy Family, a modern crucifix painted by Jean Renault, and a Way of the Cross by the same artist, not to mention a rich collection of statues.
A timed access system allows visitors to explore them at any time.
Set off to explore it via the small country lanes.

Details

10206463
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.47 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 240 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 249 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 226 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 59 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Pleuven (29170)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.907423° / W 4.043168°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0519ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the community hall, near the church.

Blue and purple signposting

(S/E) From the car park, head across to the pedestrian crossing opposite, which goes round the church to the right, then turn right onto the road leading down to the hamlet of Le Stivell. Note, in the middle of the junction, a 16th-century wayside cross, featuring a cross adorned with fleurons. Turn left and walk past the old communal washhouse, which has been fitted with a roof and landscaped. Continue to a signpost indicating the Prajou and Moulin du Pont routes.

(1) Turn right into the driveway of a large estate (Ty Névez Maner an Traon), walk past it and continue along a sunken track that leads into the woodland. Cross a small stream via a footbridge and continue to the junction with a road.

Purple markings (sparse and very faint)

(2) Turn left onto a path running along the edge of a meadow on your left, which soon ends and leads down onto the road. Continue carefully along the side of the road. In a 30 zone, look out for a pretty pond on the property on your right. Follow this road straight on; it begins a steady climb until you reach the junction with the Route de Saint-Tudy (a half-broken sign pointing to the chapel).

No signposting

(3) Turn right, passing an old transformer flanked by a more modern one. Follow this road downhill, passing the hamlet of Ker Avalou on the right, then the locality of Kerguilavant on the left. Shortly afterwards, look out for a sign pointing to Kerjacob on the right.

(4) Turn right onto the access road to this restored farmhouse and continue along the grassy path by the gable end of the house. After entering a field, carry on straight ahead through the tall grass (an unmaintained section) and emerge at the hamlet of Saint-Tudy. Turn right to reach the chapel situated on a small grassy hillock (you can view the interior via a timed access gate).

(5) After taking the time to explore the chapel, head back along the small road, turn left at the junction, pass the hamlet of Rozaligou and begin a lovely climb.
Carry on straight ahead and pass the Kerguilavant organic poultry farm.

(4) Carry on straight ahead until you reach the fork in the road from the outward journey (sign for the chapel).

Purple markings (sparse and very faint)

(3) Turn right and join the D45.

No markings

(6) Turn left and walk along the verge of this relatively busy road until you reach the sign for the Bellevue Industrial Estate.

(7) At a bus shelter, take this road to the left. Note a small cross on the left and a large orchard on the right.
Follow this road with care until you reach the entrance to the industrial estate (Fouesnant Ambulance Station on the right).

(8) Cross the road carefully to head up into the Bellevue Industrial Estate, walk alongside a football pitch and arrive at a junction (sign saying ‘give way’). Continue along the road opposite, going against the flow of traffic, which leads back down towards the main road. Pass the first footpath on your right (sign for the hamlet of Bellevue No. 23) and, immediately afterwards, take the next one, which leads up towards a new street; follow this to reach the hamlet of Kerguily.

At the end of the street, first turn left then right to carry on straight ahead. Ignore the steps leading down to the restored washhouse and leave the residential area to rejoin the main road.
Head up to the right towards the church and, at the corner of its surrounding wall, climb the steps to reach the large grassy esplanade where boules courts have been laid out (Espace Yvon Le Maout).
Walk round Saint-Mathurin Church, pass the war memorial and turn left to reach the car park of the community hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 226 ft - Car park at the community hall - Église Saint-Mathurin (Pleuven)
  2. 1 : mi 0.28 - alt. 210 ft - Junction at the signpost
  3. 2 : mi 0.76 - alt. 112 ft - Road junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.5 - alt. 161 ft - Route de Saint-Tudy
  5. 4 : mi 1.85 - alt. 115 ft - Kerçacob sign
  6. 5 : mi 2.26 - alt. 59 ft - Chapelle Saint-Tudy (Pleuven)
  7. 6 : mi 3.22 - alt. 171 ft - D45 road
  8. 7 : mi 3.41 - alt. 197 ft - Bus shelter
  9. 8 : mi 3.79 - alt. 200 ft - Entrance to the industrial estate
  10. S/E : mi 4.47 - alt. 223 ft - Car park at the community hall - Église Saint-Mathurin (Pleuven)

Notes

Please note that this route mainly follows small country roads, with heavy traffic at times on certain sections; this is the only way to reach this chapel.
Consequently, this route is not suitable for a group.

Toilets at the start, near the church.
Picnic table near the chapel

Worth a visit

Former communal washhouse at a place called Le Styvel.

Saint-Tudy Chapel (1665). This is a 16th-century building with a rectangular layout, restored in 1665. The 17th-century high altar features a painting of the Holy Family. A modern work has been placed at the centre of the altarpiece: it is a painting of Christ on the Cross by Jean Renault, from the Kerguivarrec studio in Clohars-Carnoët (1996). There is also a Way of the Cross by the same artist (1999).
The chapel boasts a rich collection of sculptures.
A comprehensive booklet, priced at €3, is available on site.
Thank you to the team of volunteers who help to showcase this unassuming chapel.

Saint-Mathurin Church

Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.5 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
le goff brigitte
le goff brigitte

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
I only did part of the route as far as St Tudy Chapel, as I’d combined it with the route to Drennec Chapel
At this time of year, the grassy path isn’t passable along its entire length, so I had to go through the field

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Eniatipac
Eniatipac

Good evening, I had indeed read that ‘warning’, but I still didn’t expect that.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello

"Please note that this route mainly follows small country roads, with heavy traffic at times on certain sections; this is the only way to reach this chapel.
As a result, this route is not suitable for a group.”

I thought I’d made myself clear enough.
Did you read the whole document before choosing this route?

Kind regards.

Machine-translated

Eniatipac
Eniatipac

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

I was a bit disappointed because a large part of the route is on tarmac. The Saint-Tudy chapel itself is interesting, but the scenery on the way there isn’t particularly impressive. On the way back, driving along the county road is a bit stressful, especially at this time of year when the weather is fine and there’s a lot of traffic. Sorry for being so negative...

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