Page 62 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

60  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

Exploring the Ille-et-Vilaine

This département, which covers an area of 6,758 sq km
(2,608 sq miles), is named after the two rivers that flow SENTIER DES POINTE
DOUANIERS
through it: the Ille and the Vilaine. In the north, a hilly DU GROUIN
area culminating in Mont-Dol overlooks the coast. Rothéneuf CANCALE
LE MONT-
East of Cancale, the marshlands of Dol have DINARD ST-MICHEL
ST-MALO
been converted into polders, sunken areas ST-LUNAIRE RANCE BAIE DU MONT-
ST-MICHEL
of land reclaimed from the sea. The ST-BRIAC VALLEY Le Vivier-
sur-Mer
coastline then descends to trace a bay out Châteauneuf d’Ille Cherrueix
of which rises Mont-St-Michel. From the et Vilaine MONT-DOL Pontorson Caen
Pointe du Grouin, the Côte d’Émeraude (Emerald DOL-DE-BRETAGNE
Coast) is marked by alternating jagged cliffs and Dinan MENHIR DU Caen
soft sandy beaches. Rennes, in the centre of the CHAMP-DOLENT
département, is the administrative capital. On the Château de Landal Antrain Louvigné-
du-Désert
eastern border of the Ille-et-Vilaine, the fortresses Dinan
of Fougères and Vitré face neighbouring Normandy. COMBOURG Le Châtellier
Occupying a corner of the Morbihan and of the Château de la Saint-Brice-
en-Coglès
Bourbansais
Ille-et-Vilaine, the Forêt de Paimpont is a vestige
of Argoat, the woodland that once covered the FOUGÈRES
whole of inland Brittany. TINTÉNIAC Sens-de-
St-Brieuc BÉCHEREL Bretagne
HÉDÉ Canal d’Ille Couesnon Mayenne
Sights at a Glance Château de Les Iffs Saint-Aubin-
Caradeuc
1 Rennes pp62–7 d'Aubigné Saint-Aubin-
du-Cormier
2 Paimpont ILLE-ET - VILAINE
3 Forêt de Paimpont Loudéac Montauban-de-
Bretagne
4 Redon Saint-Méen- Liffré
5 Langon le-Grand
6 Grand-Fougeray
7 La Guerche-de-Bretagne Cesson-Sévigné Champeaux VITRÉ CHÂTEAU DES
8 Vitré Montfort-sur-Meu RENNES Châteaubourg ROCHERS-SÉVIGNÉ
9 Château des Rochers-Sévigné Villaine
0 Fougères Comper Mordelles Argentré- Laval
q Hédé FORÊT DE PAIMPONT Châteaugiron du-Plessis
w Bécherel Châtillon-
e Tinténiac PAIMPONT sur-Seiche
r Combourg Tréhorenteuc Forges-de- Plélan-le-Grand Guichen
t Dol-de-Bretagne Paimpont Coëtquidan Janzé Seiche
y Menhir du Champ-Dolent La Roche- LA GUERCHE-
u Mont-Dol Ploërmel aux-Fées DE-BRETAGNE
i Baie du Mont-St-Michel Guer Retiers
o Mont-St-Michel pp78–81
a Cancale Lohéac Bain-de-
s Pointe du Grouin Bretagne Semnon Martigné-
d St-Malo pp84–9 Ferchaud Étang de la
Forge
f Rance Valley Pipriac Vilaine
g Dinard
h St-Lunaire Landes de St Just GRAND- Châteaubriant
j St-Briac Coujoux FOUGERAY
LANGON
Hike
p Sentier des Douaniers
Nantes
REDON
0 kilometres 20 St Nazaire
0 miles 20
For hotels and restaurants see pp224–5 and pp234–5

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