The enclos paroissial is the most characteristic and usually also the most monumental group of buildings in the towns and villages of Breton, especially in Basse-Bretagne. It is a walled domain, in which the cemetery (nowadays almost exclusively in small villages), the parish church, the ossuary and the Calvary are located. The enclos paroissial could best be described as the parish yard. The triumphal arch is decorated with religious reliefs. It owes its name to the belief that the deceased, by entering eternal life, triumphs over death. For this reason, he must cross the threshold to his final resting place via a triumphal arch. These gates, which are always made with the greatest artistic care, in some cases, as in Sizun and Pleyben, have three passages, like the great Roman triumphal arches. In the (former) cemetery stands the Calvary, a sculptor's work of art that harks back to simple roadside crosses dating from before the 10th century.
Almost every village along the route takes part in the parade and crosses and calvaries can be found scattered throughout the countryside.

You start your tour in Landerneau with a fill-up and then head to the enclos of Landernau. On the way you drive along the famous Rohan bridge, the only still inhabited bridge in Europe. All around beautiful houses from the 16th to the 19th century mark your route.
All that remains of the original enclosure are the church and the ossuary, which were dismantled in the 19th century, mainly due to the relocation of the cemetery outside the city.

Where the enclosure is relatively intact in Pencran, your next enclosure, overlooking the Elorn valley. The whole is an introduction to the Renaissance style, the finely carved arches are full of angels, musicians, leaves and scenes from Genesis. It also houses the 12 apostles, housed in their flamboyant niche. The bell tower, built in the 14th century, houses one of the oldest bells in Finistère, called "the Mary" and cast in 1365. One last look at the calvary, where 3 crosses rise above the monumental entrance, with the kneeling Mary Magdalene at the foot.

Among the richest enclosures, there are some that are definitely worth a visit. The enclosure of Dirinon, where history is most mixed with legends. The chapel houses an impressive recumbent figure from the mid-15th century, representing Saint Nun. Although it is not her tomb, the parish still has relics of the saint. The church, made of Logonna sandstone, combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. The bell tower with double gallery from 1588 is a model of its kind and the harmony of the 4 bells makes it one of the best carillons in the department.

Among the monuments worth visiting, the 17th century Calvary of Plougastel-Daoulas is undoubtedly the most famous. The Calvary, 10 metres high, houses no fewer than 182 statues carved from the same stones! It was built after a plague epidemic that had hit the region. The octagon that forms the core of the base has a side of 1.70 metres and is flanked by four thick buttresses. This is a great place to have a coffee.

Then you follow the pleasant winding road to Le Faou. Via Loperhet you arrive at the Daoulas Abbey. Here you will find a number of interesting places: the charm of the gardens and their botanical diversity, the heritage quality of the abbey and the unique opportunity to discover distant cultures thanks to the annual exhibitions. The parish church of Notre-Dame is part of the remains of the old abbey church. The entrance portal of the parish church, known as the Apostles' Portal, the Calvary at the entrance to the cemetery is of simple construction, with a single crossbeam, but is double-sided; it is classified as a historical monument. The old ossuary dates from 1454.

You will have lunch in the pleasant town of Le Faou. In the past, this town, a Petite Cité de Caractère®, was an important port for coastal shipping along the Brest roadstead. As you walk down the main street, you will see a whole row of half-timbered houses with their facades facing the street (16th century). They show how the construction of houses helped to make the trading activities visible to travellers. Over the centuries, the facades were covered with artistically worked slate, giving each house its own character. Le Faou is one of the few places in Brittany where this type of house has been preserved. At the end of this street full of trading activities stands the beautiful and proud church of Saint-Sauveur (16th century), at the end of the ria of the Steir Goz, the old river.

Pleyben is home to one of the most impressive enclos paroissial in Brittany. The enclosure includes the parish church dedicated to Saint Germain of Auxerre, a funeral chapel/ossuary, a triumphal arch that serves as an enclosed entrance, and the Calvary in Pleyben. The building is dominated by two bell towers. The rightmost one, known as Saint Germain, is in the Renaissance style and is topped by a lantern dome; while the other has a Gothic spire. Between the towers is a staircase tower with pinnacles and an ornate spire. You can still enjoy this enclosure from a terrace.

Among the richest enclosures, which follow, there are some where you will want to take a little more time: Le Tréhou has a domed bell tower from 1649 and a Calvary from 1578. Beautiful examples of the harmonious blending of two types of stone. The 12 apostles are carved in bas-relief on the base. Closer by, the statue of Sainte-Pitère, finely carved in kersanton, dominates the Renaissance portal, where a sandstone cornice bears the date 1610. Inside the portal are 4 statues of the apostles.
The remains of an enclosure in the old village of Quimerc'h still bear the memories of parish life. The church was abandoned in the 19th century, when the parish centre was moved a few kilometres away. The Calvary, the porch and the furniture were moved to the new village. In a place where nature has reclaimed its rights, there is no other sound to disturb you than birdsong. You feel like you have gone back 300 years in time, when daily life swarmed around the church.
La Roche-Maurice is impressive for its colourful rood screen, the abundance of figures and the strange animals. The stone lacework of the tower is 60 m high.

Your tour ends back in Landerneau. Then all that remains is: stable your workhorse, take a look at the Rohan bridge and find a nice spot to enjoy the afterglow.