I am back into my best mode, road warrior! I am looking to find new areas not visited or hardly passing by for a more in depth look, and I am thrill to share it with the world! I came to Saint-Méen-le-Grand. The town is located in the department 35 of Ille-et-Vilaine in my lovely Bretagne region, The town is located 43 km from Rennes on the Rennes-Saint-Brieuc axis , 66 km from Saint Brieuc, 62 km from Saint-Malo and 20 km from the Paimpont forest, and 95 km from my house. I walked around town just to see and learn in my road warrior mode ! Therefore, let me tell you about the curiosities of Saint-Méen le Grand !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Saint-Méen-le-Grand its term grand or great comes from the fact that Saint Méen (Meven) founded his city there. It is next to the N164 road , Châteaulin -Rennes axis ,From Vannes to Saint-Méen-le-Grand: expressway N 166 towards Ploërmel, exit Ploërmel / Mauron D 766 / D 166 or about 79 km. The Rennes TGV station is less than 40 minutes away as well as the Rennes Saint-Jacques airport.
The Chapelle Saint-Joseph Chapel, This chapel built on the site of the old parish church Saint Jean, was demolished in 1807. The current chapel was built around 1870 and blessed in 1879. It becomes property of the town of Saint Méen le Grand in 1906, following separation laws of the Church and the State. During the Great War or WWI, the mayor Léonard Drouet de Montgermont offers to dig a crypt, To accommodate the bodies of soldiers that families will have repatriated. 18 soldiers are buried, then 7 for 1939-1945 and 3 for the Indochina War. From 1920, the decision is made to affix on walls 110 marble plates engraved with the names of soldiers killed in 1914-1918. The place becomes a memorial to the glory of all soldiers who died during all conflicts.It is at the cemetery next door to the Abbey of Saint Meen.(see post).
The City/Town Hall of Saint-Méen-le-Grand is remarkable for its architecture built in 1934. Indeed, it is inspired by the town halls of Gouda (Netherlands) and Vichy and stands out for its bell tower. Along the City/town hall, on the right side, a staff sculpture represents Mercury, God of travelers, recalling that this building was once a post house. Also, see a wonderful horses fountain in front as Saint Méen le Grand has been twinned since 2009 with the Italian city of Valentano in the province of Viterbo. On the occasion of this twinning a fountain work of Georges Delahaie was inaugurated in front of the City/town hall. It is made up of an octagonal pool in the center of which stand four winged horse heads. This set recalls that the city of Valentano has a renowned racecourse on which galloping races of thoroughbred horses take place very popular with amateurs.
On our way walking to the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (see post) we passed by La Poste or the post office, a quant interesting building and here is a picture, Located at 12 rue Louison Bobet.
on about the same route as above we stumbled after visiting the Louison Bobet museum upon the wash house or lavoir also call Lavoir de la Fontaine Costard which feeds it, this washhouse was developed at the end of the 19C and restored in 1999. It is at the corner of Rue Cottard and rue de Gaël.
The Cinema Le Celtic is located at place de l’église across from the Chapelle St Joseph and very near the Abbey of Saint Méen (see post), From their official webpage I translate :Long before Le Celtic, officially was born in 1888, the association “Saint Joseph Les Enfants de Saint-Méen” was created with the purpose to enable everyone access to conferences, technical and postcole courses in order to develop intelligence and to discover the meaning of true and beautiful, In 1932, a room reserved primarily for the practice of gymnastics, was also used for some cinematographic projections. During WWII, the room was regularly requisitioned by the Nazis. They use it for their cinema sessions but also to store equipment or house soldiers there. In 1948, major works were undertaken to carry out a “real” cinema room with seats fixed to the ground and a projection cabin equipped with two 35 mm spotlights with arc lamp. In 1969, the room was renovated In 2001, the cinema section, hitherto component of “children of Saint-Méen” asked and obtained to leave the association. The cinema “Le Celtic” then becomes a completely autonomous association. In 2006, cinema was renovated again to be larger, more modern, more welcoming. A second room is created, which totals 296 seats and 9 PMR places. In 2012, the cinema was equipped digital in the two rooms with 3D projection and digital sound. Audio-description equipment has been installed since 2015. In 2019, the small room was renovated, the seats and the carpets were changed. Cinema Le Celtic is therefore a non -profit association. Its operation is based on a team of 32 volunteers and an employee. Webpage : https://www.le-celtic.com/
Another quant building that caught my attention was this pharmacy, The pharmacie Guillou at 9 place du general Patton ·In a quant building like this would love to have it as my pharmacy ! Any way this is near the Hotel de Ville or City/town hall, Webpage : https://www.pharmacieguillou.fr/
Other things to see here is the Chapelle Saint-Méen Chapel ,This chapel is next to a miraculous fountain. In 1727 it was considered a frairian, but does not seem to have founded masses. In a threatening state, even ruinous, it was demolished in 1811. A new sanctuary was built in 1835 on its site; Mass is then sometimes said there and people go there in procession. Next to it is still the sacred fountain, frequented by many pilgrims for so many centuries. It was last renovated in 1927, Very secluded in dirt road so walking is the way but no time this trip.
The Ille et Vilaine dept 35 tourist office on Saint Méen le Grand : https://www.ille-et-vilaine-tourisme.bzh/offres/office-de-tourisme-du-pays-de-st-meen-montauban-saint-meen-le-grand-fr-2728799/
The town of Saint Méen le Grand on its heritage : https://www.stmeen.fr/transitions/patrimoine-bati/
There you go folks, another nice monument for all to see, and enjoy, The ride was wonderful in country roads the real life of France ! I bring you the curiosities of Saint-Méen le Grand !!! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 