Discover Locmalo, Commune of Brittany's Rural Heritage
Locmalo has been awarded the Commune du Patrimoine Rural de Bretagne® label. The development of the town and the enhancement of its heritage make it a particularly welcoming place to live!
What to see in Locmalo
The church of Saint-Malo
In the 10th century, driven from their homes by the Norman invasions, a clan of Bretons from the Aleth region, now known as Saint-Malo, settled in Central Brittany. The area was not yet called Locmalo.
The church bears witness to this period. However, not many of its original features remain. It has been altered several times. The last major renovation only took place in 2023!
As in many religious buildings in the Pays du Roi Morvan, you can see the sandpits decorated with various motifs, which we'll leave you to discover...
The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce de Kerlénat chapel
This chapel, known simply as the "Kerlénat chapel", appears to date back to the 15th century. The sandpits, dating from the early 16th century, are particularly interesting.
Here, the artist not only demonstrated genuine technical skill and originality in his choice of themes, but also created an original model: the confronted centaurs. This half-man, half-horse hybrid is the craftsman's trademark.
This anonymous artist influenced other sculptors in the region, such as the one atSaint-Jean-Baptiste church in Le Croisty.
The valley of the three saints
In the Vallon aux trois saints, or Saint-Eugène site, three chapels and their fountains once stood side by side. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the chapel of Saint-Urlo. However, the 16th-century chapel of Saint-Eugène and the 17th-century chapel of Saint-Diboen are still there.
The latter is very small, allowing the faithful to follow the service from outside, as in the case of certain oratories frequented by lepers. Its other special featureis to be found... under the altar. In this double-leafed "chest", tradition dictated that a child should be locked up. If it cried out, it meant that it had a chance of survival. The opposite was a bad omen...
Today, the site of Saint-Eugène is a peaceful place where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the banks of the river Sarre.
The village of Longueville
From the village of Locmalo, you have to cross Guémené-sur-Scorff to get to Longueville, and yet the village belongs to Locmalo!
The chapel and its fountain
In the village of Longueville, the simplicity of the Saint-Symphorien chapel is surprising when compared with its particularly elaborate fountain. This monumental paved fountain is surrounded by low stone walls. The excess water flows into a wash-house.
The hamlet has preserved some very fine stone houses. There's no doubt about it, this is Brittany!
Every year in September, many of the faithful return to the tradition of the pardon. Some don't hesitate to don the traditional Breton costume. The thousand-button waistcoats and embroidered aprons are magnificent!
The remarkable oak
At around 500 years old, this oak is undoubtedly the oldest tree in Longueville! It proudly holds its place among the "remarkable trees" of Morbihan. With its twisted trunk, never-ending branches and enormous roots, it's a tree worthy of those found in fairy tales! While it has played host to many games of hide-and-seek over the centuries, what it really needs now is a bit of care and attention.
And there's much more to discover. Don't hesitate to drop in at theTourist Office to pick up the " Heritage Trail" to find out all about Locmalo!
