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Questember and its region
A lively and authentic town, questembert offers various facilities and activities throughout the year
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The covered market
 In general, the '' Halles'' are covered to shelter and delimit a trading relation’s zone. The market is the privileged place where goods and news are exchanged. Cloth merchants, shoemarkers, peasants met again to sell off the main trade at the fair in the olden days activity.
Built in 1552, the covered market was commissioned by Jérôme de Carné, count of Cohignac and originator of the Questembert fair. It was restored in 1675 by a local building contractor, Estienne Charpentier.
In fact the covered market, restored in 1997, has never been as much used as today. It welcomes the fair of course, but also bric-à-brac and secondhand goods, concerts and other cultural events. The “Halles” have been listed Historic Monument since 1922.
Length : 54,85 m
Width : 15,43 m
Height : 10,20 m
Roof area : 1180 m2
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Historical heritage
BELMONT’S MANSION
This 15th century private mansion with carved dormer windows always belonged to rich families. It has been the Tourist Office since 1991. The best way to admire the turret is to walk round the building via the “rue de la Salle”. This turret is surmounted by an original roof. The outer ledge of his roof sheltered two carved wooden figures which represent “ Questembert and his wife”.
JEHAN LE GUENEGO’S HOSTELRY
Situated on the corner of “Rue de la Salle” , it is one of the oldest houses in Questembert because it dates from the 15th century. Jehan LE GUENEGO, the owner of the place, was an important innkeeper and trader dealing in groceries, haberdashery, wines, sheets, leather, all the local handicrafts. It welcomed the Duke of Brittany François II in 1481. A ducal shield, visible on the wall which borders the “rue de la Salle”, certifies his coming. In the first half of the 15th century a miracle took place here. A young ten year-old boy, wounded in the head by a kick from a horse, was left for dead. His mother prayed to Saint-Vincent Ferrier in the hostelry, and a few hours later, he recovered his senses.
DE CARNE’S MANSION
This old house was, in the 16th century and until the 18th century, the main building owned buy the important De Carné family, lords of Cohignac, whose motto was “Rather break than bend”. It was the seat of the Cohignac’s jurisdiction and the pied-à-terre of the lords.
SAINT-PIERRE CHURCH
The construction of this church began in 1863 on Father Gombaud’s initiative and ended only 33 years later with the steeple. It was built on the ruins of the old church Saint-Martin du Vertou which, in default of maintenance, succumbed under the weight of the years. It shelters a retable and a monument high-altar, work of a certain Beausoleil, architect and woodcarver from Poitiers.
LEATHER STREET, TANNERY STREET, WOOL STREET
These streets’ names recall the traditional craft of fine sheet, white canvas, wool and leather, which kept an important position in Questembert. To make their professional relationships easier, the craftsmen of a same profession usually lived in the same neighbourhood, and even in the same street. The names of several public thoroughfares give evidence of this use.
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The old town
THE OLD PRESBYTERY, THE LAVOIR (WASHING-PLACE) AND THE FOUNTAIN
This old presbytery was built at the end of the 15th century and numerous rectors succeeded there until 1793. It was requisitioned during the French Revolution to be used as barracks and was later burned by the Chouans. Sold by auction in 1977, it was totally refurbished.
The “lavoir” of the old presbytery reminds us, in a small scale, the covered market in the centre. The original wreathed fountain is able to supply it. The “lavoirs” were places of exchanges and encounters reserved to the women.
CHAPEL SAINT-MICHEL
This chapel was built around 1440 in the reign of François I Duke of Brittany, at the place where Saint-Vincent Ferrier preached in 1418. The lords of Rochefort were the founder. The blazon is visible on the beams of the wood vault.
It shelters nice statues made of polychrome wood dating from the 16th century. On the left, we find a 15th century historiated and panelled cross.
In front of the entrance rises a big yew, which seems to protect the rector’s graves. Among them, we notice easily the one of Father Mulot, who died of tetanus in 1749. This is a monument made of granite and carved of skulls and tears.
The chapel, the cross and the yew are listed Historic Monuments. The edifice is not open to public for the moment .
SAINT-MARTIN’ FOUNTAIN and LAVOIR (washing-place)
This 16th century feature is typical of the time : the four-sided roof of the fountain has nothing in common with the old presbytery fountain.
It is difficult imagine the bustle which existed here well into the 19th century.
ALAIN LE GRAND’S MONUMENT
Erected in 1907, this 5-metre high granite stone commemorates the victory of this Breton chief who, in 890, rid the area of Norman pirates. Indeed, for forty years, the Breton coasts were often pillaged by the Normans who burned and massacred all in their path. Alain decided to give battle to the invaders. He won the day and according to an old chronicle “ so terrifying was the slaughter that only 400 Normans over 15000 found again the fleet”.
PLACE DU MARCHIX, PLACE DE LA LIBERATION, PLACE DU 8 MAI
Each place had got a definite function. They welcomed the different markets of Questembert, proof of intense agricultural activity and stock farming.
The Place du Marchix was the cattle market. The place de la Libération was formerly called “Place of the sheep fair”
The place du 8 Mai was named “Place of the pigfair”
The fair days were considered as public holidays. It expresses well the importance of these days devoted to trade exchanges.
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Religious heritage
Chapel Notre Dame des Neiges
(5 km from the town, towards Péaule, Le Bodan)
At the beginning of the 17th century, this chapel was built to honour St Julien. At that time, it was given the name of St Julien du Bodan. Inside, we can see a holy water font made of stone and some statues. The beautiful wayside cross and the ancient houses lend a lot of charm to the site.
Chapel Sainte Suzanne
(5 km from the town, towards Limerzel)
The present chapel was built at the beginning of the 20th century to replace the last one which had been falling into ruins. Inside a curious statue attracts attention : Ste Suzanne fancifully dressed, who resembles both a noble lady and a Breton country woman.
Chapel Sainte Noyale or Lesnoyal
(towards Vannes by road D775)
No document gives precisions about this chapel’s origin. It probably exists since the 15th century. Moreover an engraved stone leads us to suppose that either a new construction or an important restoration took place during the 18th century. Inside we notice the wood vault and the Renaissance altarpiece. The wood confessional dates from the 19th century. The wayside cross, the yew and the little cemetery situated in the south of the chapel are registered in the Historic Monuments Inventory. A religious fete takes place the first weekend of July.
Chapel Saint Doué
(from the town by the street du Pont-à-tan)
This 15th century chapel was built by a leading Molac family. Its architecture let leads us to suggest this date : buttress topped by sculptures, gargoyles and cylindrical turret. A lovely cross rises in front of the west front. It is registered in Historic Monuments and carries (on its base) the armorial bearings of the Chapelle-Molac family. It was skilfully restored by a Questembert sculptor, Mr Pignon. A mass is celebrated on the Second day of the Rogations (Tuesday before Ascension Day) and a religious fete takes place on the last Sunday of July. The surroundings of this chapel makes the site pleasant and restful.
Chapel Notre Dame de l’O
(5 km from the town towards Péaule, village of Bréhardec)
This chapel was built in 1211 in honour of Notre Dame de l’O. It refers to Advents’ antiphons, these prayers sung during the week before Christmas which begin by O (O Sapientia, O Adonaï…). The front is surmounted by a little bell tower with 4 rounded slopes, an exact replica of the fountain situated below the chapel and registered Historic Monument. Inside we notice an old altar with a Renaissance altarpiece, some beautiful statues and four paintings two of which date from the 18th century (a religious fete takes place every August 15th ). The legend claims that its well is inexhaustible.
Chapel Saint Jean
(towards Noyal-Muzillac)
This 12th century chapel is typical of the religious buildings which belonged to St Jean of Jerusalem’s Hospitallers. At that time, it was called Temple de l’Hôpital and acted as an almshouse. The oldest parts are the choir and the transept. The west front was restored during the 18th century. Over the entry portal we can observe the name of the last-but-one Commander François-Thomas and the date 1780. A religious fete takes place every year during the nearest Sunday to June 24th.
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Fishing
The country of Questembert is rich in trout rivers: the Tohon, Kervily, Arz and Trevelo rivers are the main waterways (all first-class rivers except the low part of the Trevelo).
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The wild coast
The Wild Coast, round towards the west, extends on 8 kms since the Turpault Castle to the Point from Percho. Property of the Academy of the littoral, the Wild Coast is unceasingly badgered by the sea and the winds. Even in calm weather, the waves come to be crashed to pieces bruyamment on escarpées cliffs, causing gushings of scum. Erosion worked there innumerable splits, reefs, caves and arches which are revealed only with low tide. The cliffs are covered with a close-cropped grass bearing where flower of small pink flowers: the maritime eyelet and armery. To discover the Wild Coast on the basis of the Turpault Castle, take the marked out coastal road of many parking spaces and skirt the coastal path. You will discover the old Fish pond, the Hole of the blower, the fountain of Port Kerné, the point of Kervihan where level the fortifications of a camp neolitic, Port Bara and its cave visible with low tide, the beach of White Port and its arch, the Point of Percho dominated by the vestiges of a post of customs officer, and finally the Point of Beg in Aud and its camp vénète. The beaches, very few on this coast, are not favourable with the bathe because of the ground swells.
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* not contractual pictures
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