Discover Meslan
Its name comes from the church's patron saint, Melan or Melaine, who was bishop of Rennes from 505 to 530. As in all the communes of the Pays du Roi Morvan, it is a place of religious buildings and unspoilt countryside.
A beautiful built heritage
Saint-Melaine church
The 16th-century sculpted beams of Saint-Melaine church are home to a gallery of grimacing portraits! The artist, no doubt a bit of a tease, deliberately caricatured the faults of his contemporaries to amuse the parishioners.
These sculpted sandpits also feature a hunting scene, as in thechurch of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Le Croisty.
We also see Messire Renart caught in the act of pilfering. The scene is reminiscent of that in the chapel of Crénénan in Ploërdut. However, there is a glaring difference between the two depictions. Here, in Meslan, Renart seizes a fine trout, probably caught in the swift waters of the Ellé. In Ploërdut, he steals an appetising andouille sausage. It must be a genuine andouille from Guémené, just down the road!
The village of Bonigeard
In the village of Bonigeard, you can admire a fine ensemble comprising the Sainte-Catherine chapel, built in the second half of the 17th century, one of the largest calvaries in Morbihan and a devotional fountain. The fountain niche houses a statue of Saint Diboen. His right hand is pointing to the water and his left hand is placed over his ear. This explains why Saint Diboen is invoked to cure earaches.
An impressive natural heritage
And in the middle flows a river... the Ellé
The south of Meslan borders the department of Finistère. To the west, the Ellé, with its many streams that water the countryside, separates Meslan from Lanvénégen and Le Faouët.
This promises some great fishing, but also an opportunity to take a refreshing break by the river.
The devil's rocks
Don't be fooled by its terrifying name - it's a very welcoming place! As you may know, in Brittany legends are never far away. It is said that when Saint Guénolé arrived, this pretty, hilly, wooded site was inhabited by the devil, who wouldn't leave. A battle ensued between them to take over the site. Thanks to his cunning and courage, Saint Guénolé emerged victorious.
Today, the sometimes impressive flow of the waters of the Ellé and the granite chaotic rocks that form the river's backbone are a great playground for experienced kayakers. High-level competitions are regularly held here. If you're not daring enough to take part, you can always watch!
