Remains of the hydroelectric plant

The hydroelectric plant was built on the left bank of the Nantes-Brest canal, at Coatigrac'h, in the commune of Saint-Coulitz. Thanks to the plant, Châteaulin was the first town in western France, and the third in France after Bourganeuf in Creuse and Mende in Lozère, to be electrified!
The plant was built by the "Société Châteaulinoise d'Eclairage Electrique", of which Armand Chauvel, Armand Gassis and Gustave Benoist were directors. Built by engineer Ernest Lamy in 1886, the plant supplied 300 lamps and 35 public lanterns via a network of almost ten kilometers, using the motive power of the waterfall at the Coatigarc'h lock.
The electric plant was inaugurated on March 20, 1887, in the presence of some 10,000 people. The building was constructed near lock no. 235 de Coatigrac'h on the Nantes-Brest canal, using the power of the waterfall. Its architecture resembles that of a mill, and it is mainly built from local shale and sandstone, with some granite framing.
The site had previously housed a forge until the 17th century, as well as mills upstream on the Aulne. Although the mill was initiated by the municipality of Châteaulin, the inhabitants of Saint-Coulitz also benefited greatly, as the farms were soon equipped with electricity. Cables connecting the plant can still be found in nearby farms such as Kerviliou and Ty André. At Ty André, a house built around 1930 as an extension to the existing farmhouse has two refrigerators in the basement for storing butter, which was then exported by rail.
The hydroelectric plant was finally closed in 1946. In the 2000s, a project was launched for a renewable energy interpretation center. To date, the project has not been completed. As the plant remains in ruins, rehabilitation of the site would be a prerequisite.