Abbaye de Daoulas

Surrounded by the sea and facing other continents, Brittany has always been a land of adventurers. This geographic, historic and sociological reality led the Abbaye de Daoulas to hold the major exhibitions about distant or forgotten cultures which have forged its reputation over the past 30 years.

The theme of « beyond our shores continues in the exceptional medicinal herb gardens which feature a wide range of varieties from around the world. The wide diversity of the species illustrates those of pharmacopoeia put together by different human societies with regard to the body and disease.

A former monastery, governed from the 12th century onwards by the Canons Regular of the Order of Saint Augustine, Daoulas Abbey still bears witness to its original splendour: a 12th-century abbey church (now a parish church), a Romanesque cloister with its remarkable basin, the fountain and the 16th-century oratory. Exceptional gardens - the garden of medicinal trees, recently awarded the Victoire d'Or at the 2021 Victoires du Paysage awards, and the garden of simple plants, awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label - enhance the visit, with a wide variety of medicinal species to be discovered along a landscaped trail. Large-scale exhibitions showcase cultural diversity through routes rich in works of art and surprises. In September 2022, Daoulas Abbey unveiled its brand new visitor trail. This tour, made up of around fifteen panels, offers an interpretation system as well as directional and informative signage for the built heritage and gardens. With accessibility in mind, and to make your visit as comfortable as possible, the route now offers keys to the history of the site and the medicinal plant garden. From April, the gardens of the Abbey will be accessible for the Photographic Walks. From June onwards, the Abbey unveils its major annual exhibition on a variety of artistic, ethnographic and/or historical themes.