The influence of Saint Gildas reached island Brittany and grew rapidly in the Vannetais and Armorique regions. The Abbey’s influence grew with the economic development of the peninsula. Thanks to the work of the monks, crops gradually replaced forests, the first salt pans were dug and the tide mill began to grind wheat harvests. From the Presqu’île de Rhuys campsite Le Goh Velin, you can still see a tide mill in good condition on the Rhuys territory, Le Moulin de Pen Castel in Arzon, rue de Karavello. You can also visit it (€2/ad, 30-minute guided tour).
The abbot died in 570 and was buried in his abbey. By the beginning of the 10th century, the abbey had a staff of around 150, and some twenty priories (monasteries subordinate to the abbey). The rest of its history was more tumultuous, and by 1789 only 5 monks remained. The monks were expelled during the Revolution, and the church and outbuildings sold as national property. In 1796, Magloire-Laurent Bisson bought the property and offered the abbey church as a gift to the commune’s inhabitants. In 1824, Mère St Louis, founder of the Soeurs de la Charité de Saint-Louis, bought back the abbey buildings, which were once again used for religious purposes. The school and orphanage were transformed into a home for handicapped children around 1960, then into a cultural and spiritual center. Don’t hesitate to visit this pretty abbey near your campsite on the Presqu’île de Rhuys.
