European Heritage Days

6 km from the city centre of Vitré is the Château des Rochers-Sévigné, the residence of one of the most famous French letter writers, the Marquise de Sévigné. It was in this medieval Gothic-style residence that Madame de Sévigné (1626 – 1696) stayed on 16 occasions, writing 297 letters, mainly to her daughter the Countess of Grignan. The chapel was built in 1671 and the French garden created in 1690 by the landscaper André Le Nôtre. 

Guided tour of Notre-Dame church

On the foundations of a Romanesque church founded in the XNUMXth century by Baron Robert I, the Notre-Dame church was rebuilt from the middle of the XNUMXth century. Built in a flamboyant Gothic style, the south-east façade retains its exterior preaching pulpit, of which few examples still exist. Affixing their marks to the walls and decorations of the church, the Overseas merchants, wealthy cloth merchants emblematic of the city, made it the reflection of their prosperity.

With the arrival of the Paris-Brest railway line in 1857 and the installation of the 70^e Infantry Regiment in 1874, new districts were created to the south and east of the medieval city. It was in this context that the Saint-Martin church was built in a neo-Roman style based on plans by Rennes architects Jules and Henri Mellet. Construction began in 1883 and the building was consecrated in 1895 by Monseigneur Labouré, Bishop of Rennes. 

The art library invites Olivier Petiteau to create several works in its space dedicated to its collection as well as to supporting in situ creation. Olivier Petiteau's works oscillate between the intimacy of formal research and the graphic reappropriation of various data: volume works and two-dimensional works coexist indifferently, in order to take a look at the information society, its omnipresence and its injunctions.

During the European Heritage Days, discover the House of World Cultures in Vitré.

On the program, a historic visit to the Benedictine priory and a look behind the scenes at the Maison des cultures du monde – CFPCI:
> Guided tours of the exhibition “Embroideries of Pondicherry, history of a workshop” on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September at 14 p.m., 15 p.m. and 16 p.m.
> Guided tour of spaces normally closed to the public: the prefect’s office, the vaulted cellar, etc.
> Creative workshop in the vaulted cellar: introduction to kolam, the Indian practice of chalk frescoes on the floor.
> Free listening to the CD collection from the INEDIT label
> The publishing shop: all issues of the Revue Internationale de l'Imaginaire, catalogues of past exhibitions, Atlas de l'Imaginaire and many other works…

Saturday, September 14 and the weekend of September 21 and 22 As part of the Heritage Days, the Collective Vie tré inspiration offers you a journey of artists and artisans through the streets of the historic center of Vitré and into the world of their workshops.

This collective, which brings together 19 artists and artisans, was created to promote local art and boost the artistic dimension of Vitré.

Mathilde Papillon invites you during the European Heritage Days 2024 to visit the painting restoration workshop at the Chapelle des Trois Marie, 74 ter rue du Rachapt in Vitré.

Discover the restoration carried out inside the Chapel and a presentation of the profession of painting restorers.

The Vitré Patrimoine and Vitré Atout associations are joining forces to help Vitré residents discover their heritage, paying attention to particularly interesting and little-known details because you have to "look up and open your eyes" to discover them.

This operation consists of recognizing certain details that you will find in the windows of merchants who have agreed to host a photo.

A symbol of the Renaissance, the Saint-Marse de Bais church was built in several campaigns, some of which took place during the 16th century. Listed as a Historic Monument (1910), it has an exceptional portal protected by a monumental porch, where it is possible to admire secular and mythological iconography and biblical sentences in Latin and French.

Come and discover the history and heritage of this building and the town during guided tours and activities organized by the municipal media library and the association of Friends of Bais Heritage, including the calligraphy workshop. Create a runic symbol at the media library with the artist-calligrapher Julie-Primrose Maréchal (from 10 years old)
and meet Paul, the Runes Pendragon Knight…

Discover the history and architecture of the Château de l'Espinay, built in part during the Renaissance by the Espinay family, a Franco-Breton noble family who held important positions at the ducal and then royal court. Also admire the great hall and its monumental fireplace, a jewel of the Renaissance in Brittany during the visit dedicated to the interiors.

Built in 1870 and extended in 1910, Belair Castle has belonged to the Legge family for 2 centuries. As part of the European Heritage Days, discover the interior of the chapel and the lounges.

Stroll through the estate with its 7 ha park with its French garden, a wood, an enclosed vegetable garden, a pond and which offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside.

Take a journey through time in the footsteps of the built heritage of the town through several activities. So, on Friday, go with the school to look for places in the town using old photos. Then, with the help of an exhibition, resulting from the collection of old photos, see the past and present of the local heritage...

Labeled Petite Cité de Caractère®, La Guerche-de-Bretagne has many heritage sites. Discover the events organized as part of the European Heritage Days.

Commemoration linked to the Second World War
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of La Guerche-de-Bretagne, the municipality is offering an exhibition entitled “War Memories: La Guerche-de-Bretagne from 1939 to 1945”, as well as stories about war memories within the municipality.

Fun introduction to bookbinding
Come and create a small notebook bound on a stick, in landscape format, on Saturday, September 21.

Unique in France, the Indochinese pagoda is also one of the most unusual religious buildings in the territory. Octagonal in shape, it was brought back in kit form from Indochina in 1875 by the missionary priest François Lizé who carried out two missions in Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City), in what is now Vietnam. On his return, having become rector of the parish of Selle-Guerchaise, he had the pagoda rebuilt (1877) on the site of the former Poncel chapel. Since restored, the pagoda houses an astonishing 16th century Trinitarian statue.

St. Patern's Church
Built on the site of an old Romanesque church from the 12th century, of which a chapel (to the right of the choir) still remains, the Saint-Patern church visible today is Gothic in style and dates mainly from the 16th century. It is protected as a Historic Monument, thanks in particular to the five stained glass windows for which it is renowned, and is the subject of an appeal for donations via the heritage foundation for their restoration. Discover them during the guided tour by Mr. Jean Haslé planned for this occasion.

Saint-Job Chapel
Recently restored, the Saint-Job chapel stands out for its massive appearance due to the buttresses which flank its two gables. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, it houses a monumental altarpiece from 1671 classified as a Historic Monument. Take advantage of the guided tour organized to admire its restoration.

In 1881, the rector of Marpiré, Abbé Cochet, was sent to La Salette. He had the sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette built in recognition of this in Marpiré between 1884 and 1885.
The latter is formed by three caves: one dedicated to the first group of the apparition of La Salette, a second for the conversation of the Virgin of La Salette and a third for Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. The monumental ensemble is crowned at the top by the Virgin of La Salette.

Climbing the tower of the Notre-Dame-du-Roc church
Located at the top of a rock to which it is anchored, the Notre-Dame-du-Roc church in Montautour offers a breathtaking panorama of the area from the top of its tower built in 1858. It is in fact the highest commune in the department and the panorama covers as far as Mont-Saint-Michel in good weather! A great reward after climbing the 146 steps. Then enjoy a stroll in the picturesque village of Montautour, in particular the one that goes around the hill, a village located on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. There is also a space for resting and picnicking dedicated to them, near the town hall and the association bar.

Father Roger Blot, diocesan head of religious heritage, offers you a conference on the Saint-Pierre church at the Visseiche media library, followed by a guided tour, during which you will get to know the rooster (1828) and the old cross of the church (16th century).