The Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré, granite museum in the land of the waves

The Breton coastline has many more wonders than you can imagine! Have you ever heard of the Sculpted Rocks of Father Fouré?

Ah! Brittany and its mysteries... No other region of France presents such a complete mythology over several millennia.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in this unfamiliar era, at the height of the menhirs and dolmen scattered throughout the territory. Do you prefer the Celtic legends and the gathering of the famous gui, the sacred plant of local druids? Free! Unless you lose the secrets of the Brocéliande Forest, in the quest for the Grâl? Many centuries later, dive into the corsaries, the most famous of which were from Saint-Malo. Brittany still fascinates and always.

Let's stay in the Saint-Malo area, a few kilometres from the city centre. Today we lead you to the discovery of a cliff not like others... Formed for years by a self-taught priest and sculptor, she gradually became an open-air museum of raw art. Today we are talking about the Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré, or Rothéneuf.

What is it? What is the story of this surprising and singular place? Where, when and how to access it? Discover in this article all the information you need not to miss this mysterious work during your next stay in Brittany!

In the footsteps of the Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré

This set of works was made between 1894 and 1907 by Abbé Fouré (1839-1910). This priest, who became deaf and mute, saw in the sculpture a new way of expression.

Adolphe Julien Fouéré, called Father Fouré, is a Catholic priest. Abbé Fouré was a rector in several Breton parishes in the 19th century. In particular, he committed himself to the cause of the workers on strike at the Paimpont ironworks. But after a cerebral accident that makes him deaf and mute, Father Fouré is forced to abandon his ministry. He then retired to Rothéneuf in 1894. This date marks the beginning of his monumental work of the Sculpted Rocks.

The sculpture quickly becomes an exutory. The so-called "the hermit of Rotheneuf" withdraws in this former village of fishermen and plowers. Its purpose is the creation of these master works. For nearly 15 years, Abbé Fouré cuts the open-air rock. Even today, these curious sculptures attract many visitors.

What is behind the Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré?

Les Rochers Sculptés de l’abbé Fouré are located on the Breton coast, about 5 kilometres from downtown Saint-Malo. It is more than 300 works carved in the granite of a cliff overlooking the sea. Among the sculptures are the faces of some inhabitants of Rotheneuf. A legendary family of fishermen and pirates are also mentioned. This family had ruled over the region from the 16th century to the French Revolution. It is more simply distinguished from the characters of his time, from the holy Bretons, but also from the entourage of Father Fouré. The artist invariably drew inspiration from his daily life and local legends.

So it is almost 500 m2 of cliff that have been remodeled. The priest's work is impressive. This cliff is a reflection of the fierceness of a passionate character, eager to leave a trace of his passage on Earth. This stone garden, whose view will not leave you indifferent, is the result of 13 years of work and patience. The captivating work of Abbé Fouré continues to evolve over time and tides. Year after year, tide after tide, time and erosion do their work.

The Abbot Fouré for one, the hermit of Rotheneuf for the others. To believe that the sobriquets were not enough. He was given a new nickname: the Factor Cheval breton, in memory of Ferdinand Cheval (1836-1924). The latter was a factor made famous for having dedicated half of his life to the harvest of stones and the construction of his “Palais ideal” in the Drôme. His palace has become his own tomb. These two monuments are considered masterpieces of contemporary naive architecture.

To go

How?

The Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré are located in Rothéneuf, a district northeast of the city of Saint-Malo, Brittany. Buses regularly circulate between the centre of Saint-Malo and Rothéneuf:

• Line 4 (Château Malo ✱ Rothéneuf): a bus every 25 minutes from Monday to Saturday (7h to 8h45), and every 2 hours on Sunday (8h15 to 8h15)
• Line 8 (Malo Intra Muros ✱ Rotheneuf): a bus every 45 minutes from Monday to Saturday (7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

The price of a bus ticket “1 trip” valid 1h30 is €1.35.

On your way down to Rotheneuf, you'll have to walk about 700m. You will take the rue de l’abbé Fouré, before turning left on the path of the Sculpted Rocks. The sculptures are at the end of the path.

If you are travelling by car or by bike, the Sculpted Rocks are only about 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Saint-Malo. Take the direction of Rothéneuf to the Chemin des Rochers Sculptés, then park at the restaurant parking. If you don’t have a vehicle and want to discover the region at your own pace, don’t hesitate to rent a car . The surroundings of Saint-Malo are beautiful!

On foot, it will take about 1h30 to reach the site from Saint-Malo intra-muros.

Be careful: note that the cliff is steeped and that its access can be dangerous for children of low age or people with reduced mobility! Similarly, the place is not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers.*

When?

If you wish to access it by the official entrance, the site is open all year round, from Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., in low season, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in high season, except Wednesday off school holidays from October to March.

If you have the opportunity to go to the first or last lights of the day, you will then enjoy a very pretty light that naturally highlights the sculptures. Your photos will be absolutely perfect.

At what price?

An entry price 2.5o € per adult you will be asked to allow the family owner of the place to maintain it. Access is free for children under 10 years of age .

For those for whom the coastal law predominates and who would refuse to pay to visit the site, know that it is also possible to access it directly by the low tide beach.

To sleep

To be close to the beach on which is located the Sculpted Rocks of Abbé Fouré, you can choose to stay directly in the neighborhood of Rothéneuf. You will find it very beautiful hotels and guest rooms . This can be an excellent idea if you have decided to please you during your next stay in Brittany! Des accommodation in AirBnB are also available.

Where to eat?

On site

On site you will find the excellent restaurant of the hotel Le Benetin. On the menu? Refined dishes facing a magnificent view! It will be appropriate if you have decided to offer you a good restaurant, or if your budget allows you. The prices of the formulas vary between 24€ and 85€, and a dish costs on average 30€. The 24€ formula includes an entrance and a dish, or a dish and a dessert. It is served only on noon in weekdays, excluding public holidays. If you are lucky to be there at this time, it can be worth it!

Nearby

When the sun reaches the tip of its nose, you obviously have the opportunity to picnic on one of the pretty beaches around the corner. Otherwise, you should find your happiness around! We can recommend traditional crêperies such as Tournesol, or Le Petit Crêpier (intra-muros) which offers delicious crêpes to a very good value for money. To change pancakes, head to the popular Cargo Culte, the warm B’Art à Thé or the chic Fidelis restaurant.

To take in my backpack

Be sure to forget nothing before your visit by taking a look at our small list of essentials to have in your backpack:

• Good shoes, because you will walk on steep rocks
• Water
• Hot and possibly waterproof clothing (the Breton marine air may be fresh and wet even summer)
• Solar cream (days of good weather)
• A camera, to immortalize the superb view from the site and the ephemeral works that will eventually disappear with time and erosion!

What I can discover in the region

For those who go there for the first time, we can only recommend you to visit the city of Saint-Malo. The Corsary City is full of surprises! You can admire all the architectural riches it contains (Porte de Dinan, Bastion de la Hollande, Porte Saint-Pierre, Tour Notre-Dame, Fort de La Reine...). Do not forget to make a tour on the island of Petit Bé and Grand-Bé.

We also recommend the beautiful beaches of Saint-Malo (the beach of Éventail and its Fort National, the beaches of Sillon, Hoguette or Nicet...). Be careful to keep you informed of the time of the tides!

You can also continue your route to the magnificent view of the Pointe du Grouin, which is only 15 km from the Rochers Sculptés de l’Abbé Fouré!.

If you stay on site for several days, don’t hesitate to visit Mont-Saint-Michel .