The best road cycling routes around Poilley

The Notre-Dame de Chauvigné church is a pretty rural church in the heart of the village. Recognizable by its simple and typically Breton architecture, it is a calm place, ideal for a break, with a welcoming little village around it.

The Desnos Tower is a medieval defensive tower dating back to the early 15th century. It is one of the few remaining towers of the northern city wall and was originally part of the fortifications of the "Bourg-Neuf," the newer district above the castle. It probably owes its name to Colin Desnos, a citizen of the city on whose land the tower was built. Over the centuries, the Desnos Tower served various purposes: initially for defense, later as a prison, and in the 19th century as part of a shoe factory.

The Place du Marchix is located in the city's oldest district. The square takes its name from the Old French word "marchié," as Fougères's first market once took place here. The district is characterized by well-preserved half-timbered houses dating back to the 16th century, many of which are listed as historical monuments. The square was once a center for artisanal businesses such as tanneries and cloth manufacturers, which used the nearby river to process leather and fabrics.

The Jardin Public is centrally located in the city and extends over several terraces offering sweeping views of the old town and the Château de Fougères. Created in 1865, the park combines features of an English landscape garden, French garden architecture, and botanical design.

The Église Saint-Léonard was built in the 12th century and acquired its present form in the flamboyant Gothic style in the 15th and 16th centuries. During the French Revolution, the church was deprived of its sacred function, but in the 19th century, under architects such as Aristide Tourneux, it underwent extensive renovations, including a new main façade with a large rose window. Inside, 19th-century stained-glass windows depicting episodes from the life of Saint Léonard can be seen.

The cadastral records of the Château Fort de Fougères mention two towers—the Tour Raoul and the Tour Surienne (also called "tour de Surienne")—dated between 1480 and 1485. The tower was part of the fortifications that were reinforced or rebuilt in the 15th century.

To see the change since the dams were removed.

The Tour Surienne was named after Françoise de Surienne. In March 1449, in the midst of a truce between France and England, François de Surienne, a Spanish mercenary in the pay of the English, attacked in the dead of night with his 600 men. The inhabitants were slaughtered and the city plundered. In 1450, Surienne settled there and entrenched himself. Only after a two-month siege by Francis I, Duke of Brittany, who was aided by a plague epidemic, did Surienne surrender.