Things to See and Do in Lehon, Bretagne, France

Léhon, located in the Côtes-d’Armor department in Brittany, France, is a Petite Cité de Caractère^®. Anyone who has visited this quaint little town can appreciate how and why it received this honor, as it does indeed have a lot of character.

I’ve been to Léhon several times, and with each visit I am more and more enchanted by her. The town is never overrun with tourists, as Dinan can be, especially during the summer months. Rather, it is calm and quiet, and it feels as though time has stood still for a long while, as if everyone has simply gone out to lunch and hasn’t returned yet.

Léhon is 56.2 km by car (about 48 minutes) from Rennes train station and about 5 minutes by car from Dinan. I like to use Dinan as a home base, so I leave the car at the Port de Dinan and walk about 25 minutes to Léhon. Doing so takes me along the Rance River…

One on side of the river is a path that is level and mostly paved. On the other side is a dirt path that lies beneath the trees. Both offer lovely views of the river. No matter the season, I find these unique trees that seem to have come straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. It is still and quiet here, the stillness only broken by the sound of a boat moving slowly down the river, birds chirping, and the gentle breeze floating through the tree branches.

Peaceful as it is though, it is not isolated (I intentionally took photos without people). Many a jogger and dog walker go by, so that if one walks this path alone, one can do so without worry. This is a time to clear one’s mind of all the stresses that we face in our usually fast-paced lives and careers. Here, I am surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature. My lungs happily take in the abundance of fresh, clean air. The longer I walk, the fewer stresses remain. It’s like the trees are whispering, “Breathe, my friend. All is well.”

After having walked about 25 minutes or so (from the Port de Dinan) I see the Abbaye Saint-Magloire, named after a Breton saint, across the river. I once came upon a group practicing yoga outside in the garden. Another day, I heard the old church bells ring, as they have for centuries now. I hope everyone can hear such bells at one time in their lives.

The structure of the Abbaye Saint-Magloire dates back to the 6th century and was rebuilt in the 12th century.

Walking further down the path, I come to this sweet stone bridge. Crossing it will lead me into the commune of Léhon.

A sign points visitors in the right direction….

The beautiful church and garden …

Enter the back gardens from the street…

In the gardens, I find people reading, playing with children, and sitting in quiet reflection.

In addition to the abbey, I stop to view the church, gardens, and cloister. I am sure to leave time to take a turn about the gardens and admire the work of local artists.

I like to visit during the summer months when local artists exhibit their work …

How many adjectives can I describe this view? Incredible. Breathtaking. Magical. Extraordinary.

A museum inside highlights the town’s history; guided visits are available.

I love to sit in the gardens outside when I need to recenter and remind myself to slow down a bit. That sense of peace and tranquility that only happens when one tunes out the world for a while. Sitting in garden that people have sat in, prayed in, meditated in, and played in, for hundreds of years, is a blessing. Thinking of all of those souls, all contemplating the pains and pleasures that life brings, is incredibly moving.

My mother loves potting sheds and I think she would love this little dwelling.

It truly does feel like time has stood still here…

A walk through the little town is a joy. Many of its 3,000 inhabitants live in beautiful stone houses, with heavy wooden shutters, many with overflowing flower boxes.

I love to visit Léhon at different times of day and in all seasons.

Léhon is not a town full of attractions; rather it is a place to wander about, taking in the beauty of the stone walls and houses, admiring the different hues in the roofs, shutters, doors, and foliage.

The château de Léhon, a short walk from village center, is a bit of a climb, but worth a visit. The site dates back to around 1034, but the present ruins were constructed in the 13^th century. Both the Chateau de Léhon and nearby Dinan were taken by the English in 1359. The castle was returned to the Duke of Brittany in 1365, after the Breton War of Succession. There is free entry/access during the daytime.

The ruins offer tremendous views of Léhon and surrounding areas …..

If the long walk to the town, and the climb to the ruins, have left you a bit hungry, I highly recommend dining at the La Marmite de l’Abbaye. Talking to the charming hostess is worth the visit, but the chef, her husband, will cook up a regional dish that you won’t soon forget. This restaurant does not have any hours posted, but I recall that it was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Note: this restaurant takes cash only.

Another option for visiting Léhon is to take a boat ride on the Jaman V along the river from the Port de Dinan. The boat trip takes about an hour and does not stop. Though this will not allow you to wander the streets of the town, it does take you to the little stone bridge and back, with a glimpse of the abbey.

If time allows, I recommend visiting this charming town. A word of advice, do so at a slow pace, breathe deep, and enjoy.

General information :

Chateau de Léhon  https://www.dinan-capfrehel.com/culture-patrimoine/chateau-de-Léhon /

Dinancapfrehel tourisme site in English https://www.dinan-capfrehel.com/en/

Jaman V boat ride https://www.dinan-capfrehel.com/loisirs/jaman-v/ or http://www.vedettejamaniv.com/  Operates the beginning of April to mid-October

Interactive map https://www.dinan-capfrehel.com/en/our-destination/interactive-map/

Trains (From Dinan) https://en.oui.sncf/en/

More information on Petites Cites de Caractere https://www.petitescitesdecaractere.com/

Restaurants:

La Marmite de l’Abbaye 15 le Bourg, 22100 Léhon, France

L’Auberge le Guinefort  https://www.auberge-leguinefort.com/fr

Places to Stay:

Quai de Val (book long in advance!) http://www.quaiduval.com/

Hotels in Léhon https://www.booking.com/city/fr/lehon.html

Note: all photos are mine. Please do not use them without permission. You can find more photos of Brittany on my Instagram page @agruber17

Thanks for reading!