Saint-Laurent trail

4 points of interest

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  Small heritage

  The screw press

  This monumental 18th-century press, displayed at the entrance of the village against the façade of the multipurpose hall, is a vivid testament to the region’s winemaking traditions. It is a lever press that was once used in the hamlet of Frayssignes, on the Bonnet family estate, where terraced vineyards thrived thanks to the ideal south-west facing slopes of the Rance Valley. Although screw presses have been known since Antiquity, they were perfected in the 18th century. This particular example, built with oak for the lever and vertical supports and chestnut for the horizontal beam, is especially rare and well preserved. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Frayssignes estate covered nearly three hectares of vineyards.

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  Small heritage

  The Saint-Eutrope Cross

  Dating from the 15th century, the Saint-Eutrope Cross is a remarkable element of the local heritage, listed as a Historic Monument by decree on March 8, 1929. Although it was knocked over by a storm and now stands on a modern base, this stone cross remains a work of great interest. Its distinctive design features two independent faces linked by rings, while the lobes beneath the crossbar recall Gothic crosses. One side depicts the Crucifixion, offering a powerful and timeless representation of Christian faith in the medieval period.

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  History and heritage

  The Romanesque Church of Saint Martin

  Listed as a Historic Monument, the Romanesque Church of Saint Martin is a true gem of medieval architecture. Built in the 12th century, it stands out for the harmonious blend of styles it displays: the choir and transept reflect southern Romanesque features, while the nave, enlarged in the 15th century, adopts Gothic lines. Perched on a rocky promontory overlooking three meanders of the Rance River, this modest building offers a remarkable panorama and is instantly recognizable by its slender octagonal bell tower. Visible from afar – especially when illuminated at night – it seems to watch over the Rance Valley. Inside, a 15th-century cross, a relic of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, bears witness to the site’s rich religious history.

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  History and heritage

  Saint-Laurent Church

  Dating back to the 13th century, Saint-Laurent Church stands as a significant testament to the presence of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem in the region. Initially attached to the Commandery of Martrin, it was granted to the Order by the Viscount of Broquiès at the end of the 12th century. Rebuilt in the 15th century, the church is a sober yet representative example of medieval religious architecture. While the bell tower was restored in the 1990s, it is above all the Hospitaller cross and the remains from this period that capture visitors’ attention—most notably the original Cross of Saint-Laurent, now preserved in the church of Plaisance.