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Commune in Brittany, France
Photo: Floranne2006, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Montfort-sur-Meu is a town in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany. It is in northwest France, 20 km from Rennes and surrounded by Iffendic, Bédée, La Nouaye, Breteil, Pleumeleuc, Talensac, and Saint-Gonlay.
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Built in 1152 by Guillaume I of Montfort, the church was consecrated in 1156 and rebuilt during the 14th century. It is classified as a historical monument. In 1976, a fire destroyed the upper part of the walls of the church.
The chapel was built to replace the former parish church of Saint Jean, destroyed in 1851.
At the beginning of the 18th century, when Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort settled in Saint-Lazare, he restored the chapel.
It is dedicated to Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and is dated 14th century. It is of an Italian inspiration with its bell tower in the shape of a campanile, and houses the statue of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion, born in Montfort-sur-Meu (Possible to visit his native house).
In 1914 the building of a municipal hall was started. It was finished after the war. The building housed the town's first cinema which could accommodate 400 persons. Nowadays, the building is a cultural centre which offers many shows during the year.
It stretches over a few hundred hectares. Several marked paths allow going across this wooden limestone, by foot, by horse, and for some people, by bike.
During the 18th century, this building was a hotel for the Juguet family, notables who settled in 1777. In 1857, the sub-prefecture settled at this place until 1926. During the 20th century, the hospital built an annex here. In 2002, Montfort Communauté bought the building and restored it.
To protect the marches of Brittany, the dukes fortified the big towns. In 1376, Raoul VII got an authorisation to transform the castle into a defensive fortress. Around the castle, an important fortification was built with towers and 3 doors. The Tower of Papegaut, the Tower of Pas d'Âne, the Tower of Capitaine, and parts of the former fortifications can still be found today.
An old mill from the year 1884 is on the street called "rue du 11 juin 1977". At the time, it was also equipped with a footbridge called "planks", which crossed the Meu River and linked "Mills Street".
The former development of Montfort left traces in the building of houses. Today, we can find dozens of houses which were built between 1550 and 1650. They are on the oldest streets of the town. The birthplace of Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort can also be found on one of these streets.
Dated 14th century. It is the best preserved element from the medieval town of Montfort-Sur-Meu and the most representative. The tower is known as "Papegaut" because of a contest for archers and crossbowmen in which the target was a multicoloured bird. During the 19th and the 20th centuries, the tower became a prison. Since 1984, it has housed the museum of Montfort. The tower is classified as a historical monument by a decree on 5 November 1926. The museum invites you to discover the culture of the district where history and legends are very close. Different permanent exhibitions are offered (the duck legend, the architecture of the district of Brocéliande, Montfort during the Middle Ages, 19th and 20th century clothing, games about nature).
The building is probably from the end of the 19th century. In the lower part were cubicles for public baths and a place reserved for boilers. The first floor, protected by wooden laths was where washerwomen used to dry their laundry.
Today, the town hall is in the former Ursuline convent, dating from 1639.
In 1799, Montfort became the headquarters of a sub-prefecture and a courthouse. It was built between 1832 and 1834. The difference between the old houses in the medieval town and the courthouse show the break between the middle-class elite and the former power of aristocrats.
This path enables to discover the nature in the region.
Located in Papegaut Tower, the ecomuseum offers information and exhibitions relating to the local area - including some of the local legends. Exhibitions include the duck legend, the architecture of the district of Brocéliande, Montfort during the Middle Ages, clothing from the 19th and 20th century, and interactive games.
Traditional cooking with fresh ingredients.
Specialized in "galettes de blé noir au sarrazin breton" (kind of crepe made with buckwheat flour) and crepes.
Asian cooking and Vietnamese specialities. Housed in a wood-sided house.
Home specialities.
Pizzeria.
Traditional cooking and house specialities.
Restaurant de l'Ouest on the premises.
Half-shadowed campsite. Near a river, shops, and railway station 800m distant.
Delicatessen. Salted and sweet products, fresh and organic products, wines, alcohols and spirits. Local and Breton products, confectionery, Cluizel chocolate.
By plane
By train
Montfort-sur-Meu train station has direct services to and from Rennes.
By bus
The following Illenoo bus services connect Montfort and the surrounding area to neighbouring towns and cities.
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Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, Ille-et-Vilaine · Regional · RNS
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