Saint-Thélo: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Saint-Thélo showcases its history through impressive church interiors, former cloth merchants’ houses and contemporary art. The Église Saint-Thélo, the Chapelle des Saints-Anges and the Maison des Toiles give the town a multifaceted cultural character.

Culture

The Église Saint-Thélo was built largely in the second half of the 17th century, between 1668 and 1696. In the first half of the following century, the northern transept arm and a baptistery were added. The ceilings of the nave and side chapels are clad in wood, which was restored between 1864 and 1880 and painted with vine and palmette ornaments. By decree of 6 September 2021, the church as a whole was registered as a Monument historique.

The Chapelle des Saints-Anges was built in 1696 under the administration of the parish priest Jean Caillibote, with the approval of the lords of La Motte-d'Onon, the lords of the Saint-Thélo parish. Its main altarpiece is dedicated to the angels and occupies the entire choir. The central painting depicts Tobias and the angel; it is flanked by statues of the archangel Gabriel and Saint Michael.

Textile history and art

From Saint-Thélo’s former central square, a network of lanes and passageways leads to former cloth merchants’ houses. The Maison des Toiles is located in a former 18th-century cloth merchant’s house and presents the textile history of Brittany as well as flax cultivation today.

“Mémoire en demeure” is also a contemporary restoration and artistic transformation of weavers’ houses. Local residents and international students took part in this project alongside the Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata. The artwork can be seen at the entrance to the Maison des Toiles, where there are a tower and a wooden footbridge.

Experiences

The Maison des Toiles hosts demonstrations of flax scutching and weaving. A weaving workshop gives visitors the opportunity to make a bracelet or a dreamcatcher. In addition, the Maison des Toiles offers two escape games about flax and the Toiles-Bretagne manufactures.

Further sights

In the wider regional surroundings of Saint-Thélo lies Pontivy Castle, a historic site. The Église Saint-Nicolas is a church in the vicinity of Saint-Thélo. Also in the wider regional surroundings are the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bon-Repos, a ruin site; the Abbaye de Timadeuc, a monastery; and Bel Air, a mountain.

Event

The Détissages festival takes place in mid-August.

Other places in this selection: Pludual, Saint-Pôtan, Glomel, Quévert, Pledeliac, Magoar, Merdrignac, Runan.

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