Saint-Jacut of Brittany

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If you are looking for semi-precious stones in Brittany, one of the best sites is Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, especially for garnets, tourmalines and amethyst. During the summer it is a busy tourist spot, famous for its spectacular coastal scenery. 

Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer

The story of Saint Jacut takes us back to the 5th century and the time when Britons were fleeing for Brittany, leaving Britain and the invading Saxons behind. The name Jacut (or Jagu/Jégu) is a Bretonised form of Jacob.

British migration to Brittany

They brought their Christianity with them: their crosses, priests, monks, holy      books....and saints.

Four of these saints landed together in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc: (Saint) Jacut; (Sainte) Clervie, his sister; his twin brother (Saint) Guéthenoc; and his younger brother (Saint) Guénolé. All of them were  disciples of Saint Budoc.

Jacut and Guéthenoc settled further east and founded a monastery. Both the peninsula and the Abbey where Saint-Jacut was buried are named after him.

The Abbey is now a cool place for spiritual retreats and contemplation.

Many years later, in 878, an invasion of Vikings from the North (these were later called Normans when they settled futher east) forced the monks to flee inland. They took with them Saint-Jacut's relics (the bones of an arm, apparently) and founded a new parish near Redon called Saint-Jacut-les-Pins. 

Saint-Jacut-les-Pins

St. Jacut's  name can also be found in the communes of Saint-Jacut-du-Mené and St. Jagu near Plestin -les- Greves.