Heritage TourPanorama of the GréesRochefort-en-Terre

Panorama of the Grées

The Grées are schist hills that stretch across the communes of Pluherlin and Malansac. They form an integral part of the Landes de Lanvaux, a 70-kilometer-long granite ridge that crosses Morbihan from Camors to Redon and is surrounded by two river valleys. Reaching an altitude of 175 metres, it alternates between landscapes of heather, ponds and rivers, forests and pastures, and offers exceptional panoramic views of the region. Etymologically, the word “Grées” comes from the Gallo “Graou” meaning “ridge”.

Getting there

©Renee Anne Andrieux|Sarah Chajari - L'Atelier du canal

©Rochefort En Terre Vue Sur Les Grees Parc Du Chateau|Loic Kersuzan - Morbihan Tourisme

What residents say

Renée

She introduces us to Les Grées, a place that holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Rochefort and the surrounding area.

capsule-panorama. Date de sortie : 2024.

One site

emblematic and strategic

The view of the Grées from Rochefort-en-Terre castle immediately explains why this site was chosen for its construction: its position on a rocky promontory facing the Grées provides both effective natural protection and an unobstructed view of the strategic axis linking La Roche-Bernard to Malestroit and Josselin. This natural heritage was shaped by the slate quarries, which were used until the early 20th century to build houses and cut slate for roofing. A revival attempt in 1946 was unsuccessful. The landscape has evolved over the centuries. The pine trees you see today were not always there. They were planted by man when the slate quarries were being exploited. They were planted by man when the slate quarries were exploited, to provide a supply of wood for working.

©Baudu Scopidrone Pluherlin Pluherlin Grees 6|Christian Baudu - Scopidrone

Les Grées

a natural heritage to preserve

Les Grées is part of the Vallée de l’Arz, an area classified as “Natura 2000”, a European network designed to protect sites of ecological interest. This massif is a remarkable natural heritage, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Wildlife

The abandoned slate quarries are now home to bat colonies. Some fifteen of the twenty-one bat species found in Brittany have been observed in the area: Little Rhinolophus, Great Rhinolophus, Barbastelle, Stilt-Eared, Bechstein’s and Great Wall Bats. Other animal species include the Hen Harrier, which nests on the moors, and the Pitchou Warbler. Rarer species include the Wood Lark and the European Nightjar.

Flora

In terms of flora, the landscape is marked by heather, gorse and Arrondeau asphodel. There are also rarer plants such as the umbellate helianthemum, the drop helianthemum and the asterocarpus.