Have you decided to stay two days in Vitré? It is the ideal option to enjoy the city while exploring the surrounding area. Preserved heritage, nature walks and gourmet discoveries await you, let yourself be guided for this weekend!
Day 1 of the weekend: Morning
Begin your immersion in the city through the charming cobbled streets that will lead you to the famous monument of the city:The Vitré castle. You will be captivated by its majestic towers with pointed roofs and its drawbridge that invites you to enter to discover the Castle Museum.
Then head to the Place Notre-Dame to visit the eponymous XNUMXth century church, parish of the Overseas Merchants. It is distinguished by a richly sculpted facade and a rare exterior pulpit. The church is lined with beautifully preserved XNUMXth century porch houses. Continue your discovery until the Val promenade which invites you to walk along the city walls while enjoying an unobstructed view of the surrounding countryside, and sometimes a few sheep!
If you feel like it, continue to Lavandières' meadow, Vitreans' preserved garden, a true bubble of nature on the banks of the Vilaine. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the castle of Vitré.
Have lunch at one of the bistronomic or gourmet tables in Vitré. The Rue d'En Bas, very lively, is full of restaurants which take place in old merchant houses.
Discover Vitré differently
To visit Vitré in a fun way, geocaching is a good option! Two routes of this high tech are offered in the city: “On your marks” and “In the footsteps of the Barons”. Simply download the app "Treasures of Upper Brittany".
Afternoon
Head to the village of Champeaux, XNUMX kilometers from Vitré, for an afternoon under the sign of culture and architecture. This picturesque and peaceful town hides an architectural treasure: the collegiate church of Champeaux, sumptuous building of Renaissance style. Step inside to admire the light streaming through the XNUMXth-century stained-glass windows, the carved wooden pulpits and the tombs of three members of the wealthy Espinay family, installed at the Château de la Rivière in Champeaux. The collegiate church faces the Saint-Martin cloister. Its well dated XNUMX and its monks' houses seem frozen in the XNUMXth century.
Continue your walk in the Bois Cornillé castle's park in Val-d'Izé, XNUMXkm from Champeaux. This magnificent XNUMX-hectare park, combining a French garden and an English garden, has many surprises in store along its paths. It surrounds a remarkable XNUMXth century neo-Gothic castle. (XNUMX € / adult).
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Champeaux © AtoutFrance @ leblogcashpistache ![]()
© Bois Cornillé ![]()
Glazed Lights © Max Juillot
Evening
Return to downtown Vitré for a friendly dinner before setting off to explore Vitré Lights. Each evening, this nocturnal route illuminates the walls of the city with around thirty “Vitrégraphies” which tell you the history of the city. A word of advice: be curious and keep your eyes open!
For a good night's sleep, you can choose between charming hotels, lodges or unusual accommodation in Vitré or in the surrounding area.
Day 2 of the weekend: Morning
Head to The-Guerche-of-Brittany, Small City of Character located about twenty kilometers from Vitré. You will enjoy strolling through the charming alleys and discovering the houses with porches and half-timbered houses mainly concentrated around the Place Charles-de-Gaulle. They bear witness to the city's dynamic commercial life in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, built from the XNUMXth century, can boast of having four of the most beautiful stained-glass windows in Ille-et-Vilaine.
![La Guerche-de-Bretagne]()
©MathieuleGall ![]()
©Mathieu Le Gall ![]()
©MleGall
Do you visit La-Guerche-de-Bretagne during the week? On Tuesday, take a trip to the oldest market in Brittany ! It has been in place since 1121. The stands of hemp cloth, tanned hides and salt are now replaced by stalls full of bread, fish, local vegetables and fruits and other delicacies. Lunch time is the perfect opportunity to taste the traditional sausage pancake !
You can also take advantage of your visit to try your hand at hiking by joining one of the 77 circuits set up by Vitré Communauté. THE tour n°70 (7,8 km) will take you to Year passing through La-Selle-Guerchaise. On your way you will come across the Saint-Martin church (12th-19th centuries), the Pâtis chapel, unusual with its Chinese pagoda silhouette (late 19th century), or the Selle-Guerchaise windmill. Pack your picnic and get going!
Afternoon
Calm down with a visit to the Garden of the Arts in Châteaubourg. From May to September, the 5 hectares of the majestic Ar Milin 'park are transformed into an open-air art gallery. You will thus stroll among some twenty contemporary sculptures installed on the grass, in the water or at the bend of an alley. A theme is chosen each year, the opportunity to (re) -discover this green setting with a new eye.
![Jardin des arts]()
Ar Milin Park – Arts Garden ©Pays de Vitré Tourist Office ![Les Miniatures de Domagné]()
Domagné Miniatures © VitréCommunauté-ADT35-MGall
All year round, you can also visit the Henri Chesnais promenade in Domagné to discover the Domagné miniatures. The XNUMX km path is made up of around twenty miniature monuments in stone and slate, including Mont Saint-Michel (XNUMX meters high!), Châteaugiron castle and the Parliament of Brittany. (free)
You can also opt for a country walk in the Forest of the Corbière, about ten minutes from the city center. A 3,5 kilometer footpath will take you from the edge of the Corbière pond to the ruins of the former forest ranger's house. A family and rejuvenating stroll!
Also discover our tour ideas to discover Vitré in half a day ou a day !
Practical to know:
Do not hesitate to obtain the Vitré tourist map free of charge from the Tourist Office. For a fun family visit, a treasure hunt booklet is also available (€0,50).
