This village in Ille-et-Vilaine is moving to highlight its heritage

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On this Saturday in November, the town and the collegiate church of Champeaux (Ille-et-Vilaine) are draped in a ghostly fog, but anyone who pushes the heavy wooden door is greeted by a beautiful light highlighting the magnificent stained glass window behind the high altar.

To the cheerful tones of Késako, a small traditional music group, the audience settles into the benches and monumental stalls of the collegiate church. Today, Champeaux attracts a lot of attention. Even a TF1 team is present to film the event.

Verdict

For several years, the municipal council of Champeaux, under the aegis of Fabienne Belloir, mayor since 2014, has been working to obtain the Municipality of Rural Heritage of Brittany label and to join the eponymous association. Today, the association will give its verdict.

Through a detailed presentation, developed by the association's technical team, all the elements that give Champeaux its richness appear. Of course, its Sainte-Marie-Madeleine collegiate church, classified as a historic monument since 1910, the Castle of Espinaythe cloister surrounded by his dwellings of the canons and the menhir of Haute-Pierre catch the eye, but to get the label, you need more.

Entire municipality

“Unlike the Small Cities of Character, where we mainly look at the historic center, the label of the Municipalities of Rural Heritage of Brittany studies the entire municipality, the buildings as well as the landscapes,” explains Jean-Luc Guilloux, president of the association.

Indeed, the heritage and landscape study shows a multitude of details testifying to the authenticity of Champeaux, such as rural roads transformed into walking trails or domestic heritage such as wells and ovens.

Even the geology is at stake, “as we see with the use of local shale in agricultural buildings,” explains Laurence, in charge of the heritage inventory.

Enhancement

Actions to preserve and enhance landscapes and heritage are also taken into account. In this context, we can cite the redevelopment project of the historic heart or the creation of a escape game on medieval history of Champeaux.

Under the acclamations of the public, the commune of Champeaux is therefore labeled “Commune of rural heritage of Brittany”, a new asset for attract tourists and curious people come and discover this pretty Haut-Breton village.

“The label is awarded for a period of seven years,” specifies Jean-Luc Guilloux, emphasizing the fact that the award is not lasting without continuity of the actions undertaken.

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