A walking trail honoring renowned Filipino painter Macario Vitalis is set to be created at the picturesque site of Toull An Hery in Plestin-les-Grèves, Brittany. The Friends of Macario Vitalis association, established in 2020, is spearheading this project to celebrate the artist who became the town's only honorary citizen in 1975 while he was still alive.

Macario Vitalis was born in the Philippines in 1898 and first arrived in Plestin in 1946 for what was initially planned as a short visit. He was immediately captivated by the diverse Breton landscapes and returned to settle permanently in the commune ten years later in 1956. For the next three decades, he would continuously paint the local Plestin landscapes using various artistic styles.

The proposed trail will wind through nine significant sites that held special meaning for the artist. Starting from the Moalic bridge, the path will lead visitors to the Tour d'Argent manor, the port of Toul an Héry with its red beacon of Pichodour, Plestin's beaches, the Armorique point, and Saint-Efflam. Most importantly, it will include Guergay, where Vitalis's workshop-residence was located and where he lived for approximately thirty years before reluctantly leaving in 1986. The trail will also incorporate locations in Locquirec and Locquémeau.

"This trail will contribute to promoting the study and dissemination of Vitalis's work: the talent and personality of this artist deserve to be better known and appreciated," explained Roger Le Bihan, a member of the Friends of Macario Vitalis association. The project involves installing panels at the painter's favorite locations, each featuring reproductions of his paintings of those specific sites.

Vitalis's artistic journey began with studies in the United States before he moved to Paris, where he discovered the Cubist group of Puteaux, known as the "Golden Section." He was particularly influenced by painter Jacques Villon, who had a profound impact on the Filipino artist's work. Vitalis initially adopted a cubist-inspired style before transitioning to impressionism and later pointillism. The artist enjoyed painting the same landscape in these different styles, demonstrating his versatility and evolution as a painter.

The association's website has already catalogued 600 paintings signed by Vitalis, showcasing the breadth of his artistic output during his time in Brittany. His deep connection to the region was evident throughout his life and even in death.

"Vitalis manifested his attachment to Plestin even in his death, by having the name of Plestin-les-Grèves engraved on his tombstone in the Philippines," recalled Catherine Midy, Vitalis's former neighbor. The local residents honored him on his 84th birthday in the presence of the Philippine ambassador of that era.

In June 1986, due to his advanced age, Vitalis returned to his native Philippines, where he passed away in 1989. Since his death, the municipality has paid tribute to him by naming the local kindergarten after him. The school also houses a bust of the painter, sculpted by his friend Lucien Prigent.

The enduring significance of Vitalis's legacy was highlighted in June 2025 when Philippine Ambassador to France Junever M. Mahilum-West made her first visit to Plestin, following "in the footsteps of the Filipino painter." This beautiful project by the Friends of Macario Vitalis association now seeks to make those footsteps literally accessible to others who wish to experience the landscapes that so profoundly inspired this remarkable artist.