Discover Dourdain: Church, Chapels and Gatehouse

Saint-Pierre: Building History in Several Stages

The parish of Dourdain, dedicated to Saint Peter, is documented from the 12th century. Saint-Pierre Church was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its portal can be dated to the late 15th or early 16th century and bears the coat of arms of the Montbourcher family. Remains of the sacristy, once attached to the choir, have also survived.

The church’s eleven stained-glass windows represent another layer of history. They were made between 1882 and 1884 in the Lecomte et Collin workshops in Rennes, during the tenure of rector M. Baudais. The portal and windows thus represent different periods in the building’s history: the portal dates to around the transition from the 15th to the 16th century, while the stained-glass windows were added more than three centuries later. This sequence makes Saint-Pierre a tangible reference point for the long religious history of the area.

The Chapel at Pâtis de la Giolais

The chapel’s history began with a decision dated 12 May 1743. The parishioners approved the construction planned by the parish priest, M. Fontaine, at Pâtis de la Giolais; the chapel was intended as a stop on processions. They also pledged to fund its upkeep from the resources of the church fabric. The decision in May and the construction in October were two separate steps: on 29 October 1743, M. Fontaine blessed the completed chapel, which was named Notre-Dame de Toutes-Aides.

The former chapel at Pâtis de la Giolais is now dedicated to Notre-Dame des Sept-Douleurs and is maintained by the parishioners. The small building has a flat-ended chancel and a roof turret. It was restored in the 19th century, when, among other changes, brick surrounds were added to the openings. The site thus brings together the 18th-century history of processions, its present dedication and a later phase of construction.

The Gatehouse of Château du Plessis-Pillet

From the 15th century, Château du Plessis-Pillet was the residence of the lords of Châteaubourg. The château was destroyed in the 20th century; only the gatehouse remains. A covered passage leads to the estate’s courtyard. The gatehouse dates to the second half of the 16th century. Its sandstone façade features slate bands, medallions and gables; above the portal is a niche flanked by two Ionic pilasters.

Other features of the gatehouse are also considered exceptional for this type of building: the cornice, the upper-storey window, the dormer with two cherubim and the à l’impériale roof. The contrast between the sole surviving part of the château and its richly detailed architecture gives the château’s history a distinctive character alongside Dourdain’s religious buildings.

Forêt de Liffré and the Wider Region

The Forêt de Liffré adds a natural dimension to the area’s architectural history. In the inventory dated 12 June 2024, it is listed as a type 2 ZNIEFF and extends into the commune of Dourdain. The nature-related information refers to the forest in the wider area, not to a specific place in Dourdain.

Oak and beech woodland predominates in the Forêt de Liffré, with some plots planted with conifers. It has considerable plant diversity and a varied birdlife. The diversity of bats is also notable and includes Nyctalus leisleri. Alongside the area’s history, these ecological features add a regional nature theme to the picture of Dourdain.

Dourdain as a Base for Your Brittany Getaway

Dourdain is in the Ille-et-Vilaine département of Brittany. Rennes is 36 km away, Fougères 30 km and Vitré 20 km. Of these three towns, Vitré is the closest, followed by Fougères and Rennes. These distances give you a concrete sense of the geography without specifying a particular travel time.

If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can base your choice on the themes you want to shape your trip: Dourdain’s church and château history, or the natural surroundings of the Forêt de Liffré in the wider area. This lets you assess the location according to the balance you want between culture and regional nature, without conflating these distinct points of interest.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Argentré-Du-Plessis, Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, Goven, La Ville-Ès-Nonais, Le Tronchet, Sougéal, Crevin, Saint-Thurial.

For the broader travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.