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Voykit pocket guide · France
La Nouaye
Lanwaz
Skip unless you have a car and want a quiet rural walk between Montfort-sur-Meu and Iffendic: half a day is enough.
La Nouaye is a tiny commune of 350 people in Ille-et-Vilaine, 25 km west of Rennes. Its only sight is the 15th-century St Hubert Church with a leprous porch and a classified wayside cross. Two walking circuits (Le Circuit des 3 rivières and Le Blavon) cross the village. Most travellers use it as a stop between Montfort-sur-Meu and Iffendic, not as a destination.
- Country
- France
- Local name
- Lanwaz
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short days, muddy paths)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 (day trip from Rennes) · Mid €50–80 (day trip with lunch in Montfort) · High €80+ (day trip with guided walk) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Illenoo 2 from Rennes (single) | €2–3 |
| Coffee in Montfort-sur-Meu | €1.50–2.50 |
| Lunch in Montfort-sur-Meu | €12–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RNS · Rennes–Saint-Jacques
- About 30 km (19 mi); car or taxi neededAbout 19 mi (30 km); car or taxi needed
Typical fares
- Bus Illenoo 2 Rennes → La Nouaye
- about €2–3, about 40 min (check)
- Taxi Rennes → La Nouaye
- €40–60
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car essential. Bus line Illenoo 2 runs from Rennes station to La Nouaye but is infrequent (check schedule). Walking circuits start from the church.
See and do
Known for
- St Hubert Church and its leprous porch
- Wayside cross (classified monument)
- Walking circuits: 3 rivières and Blavon
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Montfort-sur-Meu | Car, 5 min; bus Illenoo 2, about 10 min | 10–15 min |
| Iffendic | Car, 10 min; walking circuit possible | 15–20 min |
| Rennes | Car, 25 min; bus Illenoo 2 to Rennes station, about 40 min | 30–50 min |
| Saint-Malo | Car, about 1 h via N12 | 1 h 10 min |
| Vitré | Car, about 45 min via N12 and A84 | 50 min |
| Dinard | Car, about 1 h via N12 | 1 h 10 min |
Sleep
- Montfort-sur-Meu
- Nearest town with hotels and B&Bs; 5 min by car.
- Rennes
- Full choice of hotels; 25 min by car or train+bus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Where is the church? | Où est l'église ?oo ay lay-gleez |
| The walking path | Le sentier de randonnéeluh sahn-tyay duh rahn-doh-nay |
| How much? | Combien ?kohm-byen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- No shops, restaurants or cafés in the village.
- Bus service is sparse; check Illenoo timetables in advance.
- Walking paths can be muddy after rain; wear boots.
Very safe. The only risk is getting lost on rural walking paths; carry a phone with GPS.
One and two days
No timed day plan for La Nouaye yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- St Hubert Church and its leprous porch
- Wayside cross (classified monument)
- Walking circuits: 3 rivières and Blavon
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: La Nouaye, revision 5205730 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5205730
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/la-nouaye). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.