Corseul is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department, in the Brittany region, a few kilometers northwest of Dinan.
Its territory of 41 km² presents hilly and green landscapes, crossed by several streams and dedicated to agricultural activity. It is mainly covered by arable land (67% of its surface area), various crops (13%) but also meadows (10%) and wooded plots (5%).
However, it is its distant past which makes the town today an essential stopover during a stay between land and sea (the beaches are a dozen kilometers away).
Already occupied during Prehistory, Corseul in fact revealed itself during the Gallo-Roman era as the capital of a people who had their own currency, the Coriosolites. Equipped with a fortress, the Montalifant dynasty later had its roots there: its last representative was the tutor of Anne of Brittany (15th century). Earlier, Saint Malo had performed several miracles there.
Starting in the 1980s, several archaeological excavation campaigns have brought to light the remains of the ancient capital and then the Roman occupation. Now highlighted, they constitute a formidable point of tourist attraction. Added to this is strong potential in terms of hiking and nature leisure activities. Corseul which has nearly 2,300 inhabitants is therefore worth the detour near Dinan and the Emerald Coast.
Before focusing on the various archaeological sites, several "traditional" heritage elements should be mentioned and discovered in the town and the different hamlets.
This is the case of the parish church of Saint-Pierre, rebuilt from 1836 to 1839. Its "north" porch from the 15th century has however been preserved, and houses a font carved from an antique granite column with sculpted heads, a baptismal font from the 12th century and a Roman funerary stele reused in the 19th century.
Also worth seeing, on a religious level, is the Sainte-Eugénie chapel, rebuilt in 1735 but with part of the fenestration dating from the 14th century. Here again, Roman columns were reused.
As for civil heritage, note the town hall installed in the old presbytery, displaying an elegant neo-classical style, the remains of the Montafilant castle, a fortress built by the counts of Dinan in the 12th century on a steep hill to the north-west of the village, which turned into a quarry even before the Revolution, or the castle of Monterfil (19th century) with its protruding façade and its two round towers with pepper shakers.
The La Bage manor (former abbey dwelling remodeled in the 19th century), the La Tandourie manor with its chapel, the La Vildé-Bouétard manor of Templar origin, or even that of Plessix-Madeuc with its square tower and its neo-classical pediment which testifies to a remodeling in the 18th century are also worth mentioning.
During a walk, again, the Saint-Uriac fountain, the Merovingian cross of the rue de Montafilan which was undoubtedly a monolith reworked and Christianized in the 11th century, the bread oven of the Hestrinais and the dovecote of the Grande Boixière, well preserved, and finally the statue of Our Lady of Perseverance dating from the beginning of the 20th century, installed on an ancient Roman column, can finally be noticed.
Then place the archaeological sites.
Before the village when you arrive from Dinan, the temple of Mars is first located, also known as the sanctuary of Coriosolites or Haut-Bécherel. Classified as a Historic Monument since 1840, it is not the most spectacular vestige but it is the “tallest” in the region.
The sanctuary was built in the 1st century AD. It includes an octagonal cella (room where the divine statue was installed) and a courtyard surrounded by a gallery on three sides.
At the entrance to the village, this time, visit the commercial district of Monterfil, also known as the Jardin des Antiques. Around a road lined with porticos and colonnades which led to the forum, warehouses, shops and homes were located.
In the center of Corseul, finally, the domus (house) of Clos-Mulon dates from the 1st century and belonged to a notable. It was later equipped with thermal baths.
These three freely accessible, highlighted sites having been discovered, a visit to the "Coriosolis" Heritage Interpretation Center installed in an old school allows you to better understand how the ancient city developed and what life was like there daily. Coins and objects discovered during excavations are on display. Educational and fun, the center even invites immersion thanks to virtual reality.
The reverse route is possible: thanks to applications to download at the center, the visitor then goes to the sites and visualizes them as they were 1800 years ago!
Open Tuesday to Sunday in season, Tuesday to Friday in February and March. Price: 3 to 5 euros. Information on +33 2 96 83 35 10.
Culture still on the program with shows, conferences, community activities hosted in the multipurpose room: information in the town hall on +33 2 96 27 90 17.
For athletes, are accessible on the common a football field, a city stadium, an indoor hall, a bowling alley, a tennis court. If necessary, contact +33 2 96 27 90 17.
Hiking enthusiasts are also in the party, with several circuits traced in the locality itself (Montafilan, Etrat, Temple of Mars loops, etc.). It is also possible to reach the coast via secure routes. Maps and information on +33 8 25 95 01 22.
Bucolic walks (and shaded in summer) are also welcome on the Val de Gravel valley site, to the southwest of the town, with a picnic area. picnic, pond open to fishing and fitness trail.
Nearby, a motocross circuit which hosts international events is now also open to mountain biking.
Also note the Sonnenbühl rest area at the entrance to the town.
During a stop at de l'Étrat (contact +33 6 13 83 34 47) can be synonymous with pleasant walks and discoveries!
