The guardhouse, TyGward in Breton, is an imposing block of granite which stands at the highest point of Île Grande. Right around the periphery of the island, grey and blue granite was mined for several centuries, contributing to the area's renown. Walking around the area, you can find traces of the mining activity and imagine the work of the quarrymen. Following the paths which snake through the heather, you will arrive at a rock formation nicknamed "Le Lion" (the Lion), not far from the statue of a stonecutter. The granite for the construction of the viaduct at Morlaix was extracted from the adjacent old quarry, whose face is impressively large. Opposite you is the outline of Île du Corbeau. This island was an important site for the extraction of blue granite.
Be sure to visit the rural hamlet of Saint-Samson, a quiet spot in the country with a chapel, a menhir and a fountain. The chapel, constructed between 1575 and 1631, is a superb example of the... See
Construction of Saint Jacques Church began in the eleventh century using granite from the area and further construction followed over the years, resulting in today's patchwork of architectural... See
This park is dedicated to the memory of two quarrymen and displays granite used in an unusual way. This noble material, the basis for unique poetic landscapes, has inspired many artists over the... See
Several hundreds of millions of years old, granite is timeless. Even now, its high quality makes it a material of choice for many uses. The marine bears testament to this: its wall was built from... See