Saint-Hélen: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Saint-Hélen has 1 km of shoreline along the Rance estuary between Chantoiseau and Pointe du Chatelier. It also has a long parish history, medieval traces and the extensive natural area of the Forêt de Coëtquen.

Culture

The parish of Saint-Hélen is documented from 1267 onwards. Its parish church has Romanesque origins, was rebuilt in the 15th century and restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. The church preserves fragments of a historic stained-glass window created between 1486 and 1502, depicting Saint Hélenus as a bishop overcoming a dragon, as well as the Lords of Coëtquen in four lower panels.

The Château de Coëtquen preserves significant remains of a medieval fortified complex built in the 15th century, as well as the base of a large keep. On the edge of the Coëtquen forest, the medieval motte-and-bailey castle is also still visible. In Saint-Hélen, a broken covered gallery extending for around 12 metres has been preserved.

Landscape

The Forêt domaniale de Coëtquen is a preserved natural area of more than 550 hectares on the border between the Côtes-d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine départements; most of it lies within the municipality of Saint-Hélen. The Forêt de Coëtquen is associated with hiking, history and Breton legends.

The Forêt de Coëtquen is home to the Chêne des Forts, a tree believed to be more than 400 years old and associated with local legends about archers. The Étang des Quintaines is suitable for picnics and fishing.

Events

Les Esclaffades had already been held for the 22nd time; the 23rd edition was announced for 4 and 5 July 2026.

Further discoveries

In the wider area around Saint-Hélen are the Château de la Ville Huchet, a château, as well as St. Catherine Tower, the Cardinal Gate and the Jerzual Gate, each historic sites. Also in the wider area are Plage du Mole, Plage de l’Éventail and Plage Verger; all three are beaches. Île Harbour is an island there.

Further location pages: Mantallot, La Malhoure, Goudelin, Trédrez-Locquémeau, Pléboulle, Ploumilliau, Plélan-Le-Petit, Saint-Maudez

To the higher-level travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.