Saint-Jacut's grand tour

Start by gathering information on the itinerary, the tide and other hikes available! The office de tourisme takes time to offer you “tailored” advice in order to guaranty a great moment on the peninsula. From the Office de tourisme, walk past the Mairie (Town hall). At the intersection with “Grand Rue”, take the row ahead, by the crêperie.

There used to be only the one street in the village, on each side of which were perpendicularly aligned houses called “rangées” (“rows”). These small, one storied, adjoining fisher houses were all walled to the North in order to be protected from winds and opened to the South to benefit from the sun. Their closeness facilitated the Jaguens’ common life. The rows are private. Please respect the inhabitants’ quietness At the end of the row, go down the street to the stele de la Banche.

We often speak of a fishermen’s village. However what would have they been without women? This stele de la Banche pays tribute to the Jaguines, the women of St-Jacut, whose missions were numerous and sometimes perilous: fishing the “chevlin” (shrimp based bait) in the bay, managing the household, selling fish... So important were the women that it is said they decided of the peninsula’s fate. Take the path to the North on the top of the slipway. Follow the GR to the point.

Up until their interdiction in 1852, St-Jacut had many fisheries, so much so that boats were rare! There were two kinds of fisheries: “locks” with low stonewalls (photo) and fascines (hedge laying affixed to wooden pickets) of which traces remain.

This thick sand beach is the dream beach for many children where sandcastles are being built as well as other shapes and seashells. Summer competitions are held. The beach’s name comes from the jaguen maritime dialect; the haas was a kind of small shark now extinct.

After the Plage des Haas, the costal path follows the abbey’s park. A gate allows you to access this private property and discover its remarkable edifice. History and legend tell us that in the 5th century, two twin monks, Jacut and Guéthenoc, arrived on this peninsula called « Landoac » looking for a fitting place to create a hermitage. A Benedictine monastery was established there and had a great influence on the region’s development and evolution until the French Revolution. Sold as Bien National (National Good), sold again many times, the abbey knows many vicissitudes and different uses (Border guard caserns, home to a wealthy foreign family...). In 1875, the monastery’s ruins are bought by the Congrégation des Sœur de l’Immaculée: a religious order from St-Méen-le-Grand (Ille-et-Vilaine), they’ll turn it into a nursing home for the nuns and a free school for the children of the area. The restoration starts right away. To finance the school, the nuns host, firstly the British tourists who came, under doctor’s orders, to take sea water and hot algae baths. They stream in right from 1876. That’s the start of the “guesthouse”. Along the years, the summer holiday goers keep growing in numbers; the nuns develop the hotel capacities of the Abbey and diversify the activities and the hosting: the Abbey is now a guesthouse and a high place of cultural and spiritual encounters. Please respect the environment and the quietness of the residents.

From the Pointe du Chevet, or « Chef de l’Isle » (Head of the Island), at the top of the peninsula, border guards enjoyed a remarkable view on la Baie des Ebihens (reachable at low tide, details must be looked up at the Office de tourisme).Today, this remarkable natural site is a great place for contemplation. Go back following the Point’s eastern costal line. Depending on the tide, 20 metres before the gate go down the left path towards the beach and go up after the Plage du Rougert’s (9) cabins. If the tide is too high, follow the signs along the road and the parking space.

The name « plage du Rougeret » was given at the beginning of the last century. It isn’t because of the swimmers’ skin reddened by the sun (as the bodies were covered up then) but from wild grasses that had red flowers and are now extinct but were then all over the coast.

It’s the « maqueriau » (mackerel) port where Saint Awawa was prayed to for fish. At the Houle port (10), go up the street and turn left after the residence and keep going.

When in rue du Châtelet, (the Office de tourisme is 150m farther on the right), go down left (on your left again you’ll see the port). Retrace your steps and follow the street to the Office de tourisme. The second half of the 19th century saw the creation of two ports in St-Jacut: one for summer and the mackerel fishing season: la Houle Causseul; the second one for winter, protected from the dangers of the sea: le Châtelet, where you can find a remarkable salt storage room. Both retain their authenticity. Even though it looks modest, St-Jacut was, in the 1930's, the second largest port of the Côtes-du-Nord, (Côtes d'Armor's former name)

Walk past the camping site and take the path through the dune above the beach. The name of this point is a reference to the judiciary powers of St-Jacut’s abbot in medieval times, abbot who had the “droit de gibet” (right to hang people) there. Today the only executions are the 14th of July fireworks. From this point, a very beautiful view of the maritime marshes of Beaussais, of Lancieux and the Châtelet harbour, is enjoyed. Continue towards the end of the bay and walk on the dike to the Zone Artisanale.

Probably started in the 11th century and erected by the monks of the abbey around 1430, the monks’ dike served to stop the sea’s assaults and to win precious arable lands to feed a famished population.

In this gained over the sea area, the Zone Artisanale set itself. Most of the activities are around the sea, notably shellfish farmers who breed mussels and hoisters in the mouth of the Arguenon River. In front of the shellfish farm « le Vivier d’émeraude », go up a moist path, cross the road with caution and take the road in front and then the first path on the left. Follow Trégon. At the next intersection, go right, and then right again 400 metres after the “véloroute” sign, then take the left path toward le Guildo.

In a limited space, the inlet of la Pépinais offers a condensed view of the maritime marshes biodiversity: slikke, shore, reed bed... a rare ecosystem.

This old castle is built on a rocky peak at the mouth of the ria. A strategic position since the Arguenon River was a border as well as a way inland. A first fortified house from the 11th and 12th centuries, mostly made out of wood and earth, is replaced in the 13th century by a stone castle, built according to a quadrangular plan with angle towers. The castle’s great architectural quality shows the will of the new ducal dynasty to assert its predominance on the area. The castle is torn down during the Succession War of Brittany (1341-1364); in which Jean de Montfort and Charles de Blois fight over the rule of the duchy. At the end of 14th century and the beginning of the 15th it is rebuilt by Charles de Dinan and acquires its actual plan. In the middle of the 15th century, the castle reaches its peak and becomes a true princely residence. It then belongs to Françoise de Dinan and her husband Gilles de Bretagne, the Duke’s brother. Abandoned in the 17th century, it is saved from neglect in 1981and is being studied and revalorised. The site, which belongs to the Département des Côtes-d’Armor, is a Monument Historique and Espace Naturel Sensible (Historic landmark and Sensitive Natural Area). This remarkable natural site and the singular history of the ruins make this a privileged walking place. A heritage note is available to get more information on the castle. From the castle, go there and back to the ringing stones (mind the tides).

CAUTION: in case of high tide, the stones can’t be reached These ringing stones are large blocks of amphibole that give an argentine sound (not the tango) when they are hit with some pebble. Some think they are remains of Gargantua’s sick when he was upset by the smell of a dried rays-full lighter passing under his nose.

This « dangerous ford » on the ancient Roman road will give its name to the Port of le Guildo. This favorable site is also a port turned to the sea and towards Plancoët and the end of the ria.

L'ancien couvent des Carmes est situé au Guildo à proximité du gué naturel qui à cet endroit traverse l’Arguenon. Depuis le 13e siècle les constructions se sont succédées un port d’aumône pour l'assistance des pauvres, des voyageurs et des pèlerins, une collégiale puis un couvent…… Il subsiste aujourd’hui la maison conventuelle datant du début du XVIIe siècle et les ruines de l'église, la chapelle et du cloître.

Back to the Pépinais Inlet (15), take the GR on the left at the end of the valley and follow it to the Dune. The dune of Vauvert is a natural moving and fragile ensemble; please follow the principal path. Theses incomparable dunes and the rare flora developing there won’t fail to inspire you. The ecosystem of the site is very different from the mudflat, and the rocky coastal lines. A true wild garden can be found there: orchids, yellow horned poppy, purslane, sand bedstraw, thisthles, many colours and occasions to be amazed. CAUTION! For a few years now, the use of the path threatens this very fragile natural environment. Winter tempests weaken the dune. A detour might be put into place if so. Please follow said detour and stay on the path.

When on the Landouar square, go up on the left of the Grande Rue and go back to the office. The Grande Rue, (Main Street), was, for a long time, the only way called “rue”; the other were paths or roads. On this main road, rare houses show only their façades. Right or left the “rangées” (rows of houses) are aligned. At the end of the Impasse du Paradis (Heaven’s dead end) you’ll meet Saint Christopher, protector of the travelers. This granite statue from the 15th century proves how long he was celebrated in Jaguen territory.