The Valley of the Saints
The Valley of the Saints intrigues, captivates, surprises and seduces. An emblematic site on the Quenequillec hill, at an altitude of 230 m, the Vallée des Saints in Carnoët is a sort of Easter Island steeped in Breton tales and legends!
Close-up on the Valley of Giants
If you’re looking for a destination with a difference for a day out in Brittany, head for the amazing, fascinating, enchanting Valley of the Saints !
The Valley of the Saints is an emblematic site on Quenequillec hill at 230m altitude with stunning views across the rolling Poher countryside. This ""mad idea"" is a sort of Breton Easter Island of huge statues steeped in the myths and legends of Brittany !
The aim is to represent the 1,000 saints who have left their mark on the traditional, popular history of Brittany. Every year, new granite giants are carved in the workshop at the bottom of the hill by artists full of enthusiasm for the incredible project made reality thanks to generous private sponsorship. It is a joy to watch the craftsmen at work, putting body and soul into creating mystical giants from huge blocks of granite. Created in July 2008, the Valley of the Saints is a Breton community project led by the Vallée des Saints association. Recognised as a non-profit cultural organisation, its aim is « the safeguard, discovery and promotion of Breton popular culture linked to Breton Saints in the form of artistic creation ».
A huge undertaking :
The Association aims to erect 1,000 monumental statues carved from Breton granite on a magnificent unique site featuring the remains of a motte-and-bailey castle, a chapel (listed historic building), an archaeological site and above all a superb viewpoint with wonderful panoramic views over the whole Poher region. There could be no better place for the Valley of the Saints than this area already steeped in history. In just a few years the Valley of the Saints has become the most unifying project in Brittany, bringing together a great network of sponsors. Numerous individual donors and firms support the project by participating in the funding of statues, site infrastructures or the association running costs. Every year in May and October the sculpture workshops are open to the public for 30 days during which time between 5 and 7 new statues are made.
A handy tip : arm yourself with a guide booklet from the shop before visiting the site as it tells you about all the featured saints and their legendary journeys ! Access to the site is completely free-of-charge, every day and all year round.
An area with lots to discover :
12km to the east of the Valley at the heart of Argoat, land of stones and forests, is the ‘Station Verte’ (rural resort) of Callac, capital of the Brittany spaniel. Callac/Kallag, which means ‘place of rocks’, is a village which combines amenities, tradition and rurality. 20km to the west lies the magical Forêt de Huelgoat (forest) with its huge mossy boulders where you can spend hours walking through enchanting scenery. 14km to the south is the famous Finistère town of Carhaix where you can experience thrilling sensations at Karaezadrenaline treetop adventure park or Plijadour aquatic complex before a relaxing walk and picnic in the pretty, leafy valley de l’Hyeres. There’s no doubt that you will want to come back again to wander around the Valley of the Saints and its surroundings !
Carole recently visited the Valley of the Saints on a discovery trip with a group of Gîtes de France owners from Côtes d'Armor. She said she found it « Impressive, almost ‘over the top’. This Valley is well worth a visit, it’s so unexpected. The guided tour is an absolute must, as you see the site from another angle. You can spend a lovely afternoon there and the new visitor centre with reading areas and a tea room is super. I’ll be going back again, with the family this time, that’s for sure.»
How to get to the Valley of the Saints
The first signs for the Valley of the Saints are on the D787 between Carhaix and Callac. Coming from Carhaix, they are on your left, coming from Callac or Guingamp they are on your right. Just follow the signs and get ready for an amazing adventure !
