Travel Guide Guichen Pont-Réan

There are two hypotheses for the etymology of Réan. réan" comes from Breton and means "frog", so Pont-Réan literally means "frog bridge". "Réan" could also be a deformation of "redevance" or "reance". From 1728 to 1904, the Pont-Réan silver-lead mine was one of the most important in Brittany. It employed well over a thousand workers. However, its decline was relatively rapid from the second half of the 19th century onwards. There are still a good number of buildings that bear witness to a mining landscape we're not used to seeing in Brittany: red shale was used to build the houses. On site, the 18th-century bridge, listed as a Monument Historique, crosses the town and offers a fine view. On weekends, the Moulin du Boël, built in 1652 on the Vilaine, and its first lock dating from the 16th century, are the perfect place for a pleasant stroll: bring your picnic and enjoy a fabulous bucolic moment. On Sundays, there's a small local market at the foot of the bridge, where you can enjoy oysters with a glass of white wine, or chicken with French fries on the banks of the Vilaine. It's an art of living and, above all, a very convivial experience. You can also rent a kayak for the more sporty types, and even enjoy a few games for the kids.