Saint-Aignan: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Saint-Aignan brings together the Forêt de Quénécan, Lac de Guerlédan and several historic landmarks. Forest, water engineering history, hiking trails and Breton religious culture shape the various facets of the town.

Landscape and water

The Forêt de Quénécan is a forested area covering approximately 4,000 ha; 900 ha of it lies within the territory of Saint-Aignan. A defining change to the landscape came with the construction of the hydroelectric power station between 1923 and 1930, which created Lac de Guerlédan. The Blavet, the Canal de Nantes à Brest and 17 of its locks were flooded in the process, between Saint-Aignan in the east and the Nicholo lock in the west.

On the southern shore of Lac de Guerlédan, Anse de Sordan is the only easily accessible point. The gently sloping shore is suitable for launching small boats. The bay also has a beach with opportunities for swimming, other water sports and fishing. There are numerous forest walks along the shores of the lake.

Trails around the lake

Several signposted routes focus on different aspects. The Circuit du Blavet is an easy 12.7 km hiking route with a duration of approximately three hours. The purple Circuit de Hent Glaz leads on a 4 km hike to Chapelle Sainte-Tréphine, the lake and the dam.

The Circuit du barrage de Guerlédan is a difficult 13.0 km route with a duration of approximately four hours. It can be used on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike.

Culture and history

The Église paroissiale Saint-Aignan preserves architectural elements from the 15th century: the nave and transept date from this period. In the northern transept, an altarpiece depicts the Tree of Jesse with numerous figures in high relief.

The Chapelle Sainte-Tréphine is a neo-Gothic chapel dating from 1897. It can be reached via a 300 m footpath from the upper car park at the dam. During the annual Pardon de Sainte-Tréphine, celebrated in May, a procession takes place to the neo-Gothic Fontaine Saint-Trémeur.

The Électrothèque du lac de Guerlédan is a museum dedicated to the history of electricity and the construction of the hydroelectric power station. It also offers workshops, guided tours and activities for families and children.

Other places

Rieux, Locmiquelic, Colpo, Sainte-Brigitte, Belz, Camors, Locoal-Mendon, Baud

To the main travel overview: Morbihan.