|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
The
Oust
(Breton:
Oud) is a
river in
Bretagne,
France, right tributary of the
Vilaine. Its source is in the hills between
Corlay and
Quintin. It flows through the following
départements and towns:
---Côtes-d'Armor:
Uzel
---Morbihan:
Rohan,
Josselin,
Malestroit
---Ille-et-Vilaine:
Redon The part of the Oust between Rohan and Redon
has been made navigable for small ships, and forms part
of the
Canal de Nantes à Brest. which links the two cities
of
Nantes and
Brest through inland
Brittany. It was built during the 19th century and
its total length is 364 km (from the
Aulne at
Landeleau to the
Erdre at
Nort-sur-Erdre), with 328 locks along its path. |
Nantes |

Nantes is
the
sixth largest city in France. Its metropolitan area
of over 5000,000 is the eighth largest inhabitants at a
2008 estimate.Nantes is located on the banks of the
Loire River, at the
confluence of the
Erdre and the
Sèvre Nantaise, 55 km (35 mi) from the
Atlantic Ocean. In 1207, the
Dukes of Brittany made Nantes their home. Nantes
competes with Rennes for the title of Capital of
Brittany from the disadvantage of no longer being in a
historical provinces of France considered Brittany.
|
Blazon of
Rennes The ancient centre of the town is
built on a hill, with the north side being
more elevated than the south side. It is at
the confluence of two rivers: the
Ille and the
Vilaine. In the year 275, the threat of
barbarians led to the erection of a robust
brick wall around Rennes. Rennes became
known as the "red town".
Rennes invests heavily in arts and culture and a
number of its festivals (such as the music festival
Les
Transmusicales, les Tombées de la Nuit
and Travelling (a cinematic festival)) are
well known throughout France. |
|
|
 |
 |
Tom Baker Interview
At age 15, British character actor Tom Baker, best known
as the fourth incarnation of Dr. Who left school to
become a monk with the Brothers of Ploermel on the
island of Jersey. The town gave its name to
a monastic order, the Brothers of Ploërmel.
long-running, award-winning British science fiction
television programme produced by the BBC. |
plormel
@ mefeedia.com |
|
|
|
Broad sandy beaches, picturesque ports and rocky coves, ancient
folklore and legendary beauty. This is Brittany, situated in the North West of France,
the part of France closest and most influenced by Great Britain and
Celtic tribes. Many who come will again return to stroll along the small
streets of its villages, enter the austere churches, contemplate
the many star markers of the ancient druids, follow the banks of
its many fishing seaports and enjoy one of France's most appreciated
cuisines. The region
has a welcoming warmth and is alive with its miscellany of
buildings constructed from local granite, medieval half timbered
buildings and beautiful Chateauxs set in a green countryside.
Over 2,000 rivers meander down to the sea, where ‘l’Ar Mor’ (the ‘sea country’) has three distinct moods: a
north coast of flat beaches and granite headlands; a western peninsula
of wild crags, cliffs and beaches; and a south coast, indented by coves
and creeks.
When the Anglos and Saxons invaded Britain in the 5th century, many
Welsh and Cornish Celts fled over the Channel – to a land they called
‘Little Britain’. Although the region was finally incorporated into
France in 1514, it still retains a strong sense of Celtic identity. The
Breton language is still spoken (mainly in the west) and the people
endeavor to preserve Brittany’s ancient culture and traditions.
_jpg.jpg)
The sandy beaches and lakes offer water sports of every kind, including
scuba-diving, spear fishing, canoeing and wind or sand-surfing. Low
hills inland are made for cycling, horse riding and walking, especially
through the Parc Régional d’Armorique.
Seafood lovers will adore Brittany’s fruits de mer of lobster, oysters,
mussels, clams and scallops – as well as crab in flaky pastry, smoked
salmon or Cotriade (Breton fish soup). Brittany is world renowned for
its crêperies which offer inexpensive light
meals – galettes with seafood, ham or mushrooms, and sweet crêpes topped
with chocolate, fruit or jam ready to whet any appetite. Dry white Muscadet is superb with seafood,
while the local cider goes wonderfully with crêpes.
Brittany, 'la Bretagne', is the most westerly region
of France. Bordered by the English Channel on the north coasts and by
the Atlantic Ocean on the south and west coasts. Gently warmed by the
gulf stream, Brittany's climate is very mild, winter temperatures seldom
fall below freezing and snow is a rarity. Spring and summer are normally
warm and sunny making Brittany the ideal holiday destination all year
round.
This is a guide to central region of Brittany or
Morbihan which contains the forest from which the
legends of Merlin and King Arthur sprung as well as some of the most
fascinating collections of megaliths. If you are searching for the Holy
Grail the myth begins here.
Ploermel:
City of the Dukes
 |
an enchanted
meeting point of myth and reality |
On the edge of the Broceliande, the town Ploermel was founded in the 6th
century and was the home of the Dukes of Brittany. The St Armel church has
some fine stained glass and granite tombstones in the transept.
Ploërmel takes its name from Armel, a 6th century English monk.
Many other mystical and floral villages
including Monterrein, Loyat, Taupont, Gourbel and Montertelot
are close by including the well-known castles on the
canal at
Josselin and
Paimpont
The star attractions are the adjacent Duke's
lake and the many
legends still alive in the Broceliande
forest. Within the town of Ploermel itself find: Carmelite
friars, the astronomical clock, the church St Armel, the way of
the hydrangeas, and the France's largest statue of a person,
Pope John Paul
Le Lac au Duc at Ploermel is a place for water sports and
sailing, being the largest natural lake in Brittany, and with its safe
sandy beach you can swim or relax in the Breton sunshine. Around the
lake is le Chemin du Diable au Paradis des Hortensias, a 7.6 km walk
edged by thousands of hydrangeas. Ploermel is also home to a huge campsite
Camping Du Lac which has
access to a manmade beach alongside the sailing lake and is very busy in
the summertime with lots of English and European tourists.
There is an astronomical clock
which is classed as a national monument, it was built in the
19th century and has 10 panels depicting the solar system.
In addition to the breakdown of the time, his
ten dials also indicate the position of the sun and stars, the phases of
the moon, or the signs of the zodiac.
The Maison de Marmousets on Rue
Beaumanoir was until recently the most famous landmark in the
town and it has some marvelous wood sculptures on its facade.
Today Plormel is known throughout France and beyond for its
monumental bronze statue. On 10 December 2006, the city unveiled
an 8.75 m tall statue of Pope John Paul II. It was a gift
by Russo-Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, and has
sparked some controversy over the separation of Church and State
While
the Ploermel enjoys a close association with the characters from
the King Arthur legends with the nearby forest and lake being
called an enchanted meeting point of myth and reality, the town
itself will impress you as more modern rather than romantically
mediaeval.
Ploermel is a growing and
developing community with a thriving economy and a lively
atmosphere. Ploermel is also a great haven for lovers of the
great outdoors. Yet you can also enjoy plenty of indoor leisure
activities as within Ploermel there is a bowling alley, a
cinema, two new shopping centres, a good number of bars and some
excellent restaurants.
Market day is Friday and it matches up
well with nearby Josselin's on the following Saturday.
office of tourism of Ploermel 02 97 74 02 70
The coast at Vannes (50 km), Lorient and the
Quiberon peninsula are just a short hop down the dual
carriageway south about 50 minutes. Here some of the best
beaches and wildlife sanctuaries can be found. From Ploermel it is only 40 minutes
drive to the coast, the impressive town of Vannes and
just a little father afield the standing stones of Carnac,
many other ancient and mediaeval sites surround you in the
peaceful Morbihan countryside, the roads are a pleasure to
meander along.
If
you go north you can just as quickly be in Mont Saint Michel or
the picturesque and quaint old towns of Dinan, Treguer, St Malo
or Rennes to the east. In the south the canal from Brest to the
rest of France is to be found in Josselin. Pretty towns like St
Nicholas and Pontivy are easily reached by boat or canoe or you
can just cycle or walk along the tow paths in any direction.
|
Lac
au Duc (Duke's Lake )
 |
 |
Lac au Duc means aquatic activities such as
swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing are
minutes away. There is also a water slide and splash pool for
kids, free tennis courts and a 9 hole golf course on the shores
of the lake. Cycle and walking trails surround the lake and also
lead you to the Nantes/Brest Canal, from here you could cycle to
the picturesque town of Josselin with its
imposing chateau. The nearest town, less than 10minute drive is
Ploermel with an excellent selection of shops, supermarkets,
places to dine, historic buildings and a great weekly market.
Within cycling distance is the village of Taupont which
has a friendly bar and first class bakery
The well known sailing lake, The "Lac au Duc" (Duke's Lake
) , is an excellent site for relaxation or for water sports enthusiasts.
Lac du Duc
ia a man-made beach with a range of watersports. The supervised beaches
offer full amenities including, tennis, volley-ball, golfing, angling,
walking or rambling, fitness trail, horse riding, bathing and even a
water slide.
"Lac au Duc is a wonderful leisure activity centre where you
can experience the countless sports activities or just relax in the calm
of this peaceful and natural environment.
GETTING THERE: Follow N24 direction Rennes and take the first turn off for Ploermel,
down to roundabout and the Lac du Duc is signposted. including canoeing,
pedalos, windsurfing, childrens play area, bouncy castle and golf."
|
Josselin
 |
The beautiful medieval town of Josselin is set on
the banks of the Oust river. Josselin is a amazingly well
preserved town
with an excellent yet typical rural Saturday market. The town has a medieval castle,
doll museum, many restaurants, bars and creperies. Motorboat and canoe
hire is also available in the summer months by the castle on the Nante/Brest
canal.
 |
imposing castle, the Chateau of the Rohans,
on the banks of the Nantes - Brest canal and the river
Oust. |
In 1488, Duke of Brittany
François
II demolished the castle of Josselin, which then belonged to
Viscount Jean II de Rohan, who had supported the French party.
François' daughter, Duchess
Anne de
Bretagne, became Queen of France in 1491. She forgave Rohan
and allowed him to rebuild the castle. Rohan's wonderful facade
in Renaissance style is still there. He lowered the towers and
linked them with a "stone lace" fairly unique in Brittany.
Henri II (1579-1638), first Duke de Rohan in 1603, was the
leader of the Huguenot party in the beginning of the XVIIth
century. Cardinal de Richelieu seized Josselin and demolished
the donjon and five out of its nine towers. The two enemies met
in the King's antechamber, and Richelieu said: Je viens,
Monsieur le Duc, de jeter une bonne boule dans votre jeu de
quilles (Your Grace, I just threw a nice ball into your
skittles).
From the XVth to the XVIIth century, Josselin was a wealthy
city because of its cloth and rope workshops and its famous
fairs and markets.
Josselin's life started again in the XIXth century whan the
river Oust was incorporated to the canal Nantes-Brest and when
the church of the Roncier was consecrated as the basilica
Notre-Dame-du-Roncier. Around 800, a peasant is said to have
found a statue of the Blessed Virgin hidden under evergreen
brambles (ronces). He brought the statue at home, but the
next day he found the statue againts under the brambles. After a
few unsuccesful attempts, he understood that the Blessed Virgin
wanted him to build a chapel instead of the brambles. Note that
a similar story explains the origin of several churches and
chapels in Brittany and elsewhere. In 1789, the miraculous
statue was burned and the church transformed into the Temple of
the Reason. Small pieces of the statue were preserved and a
modern statue is now placed in the church. Constable Olivier de
Clisson and his wife Marguerite de Rohan have their mausoleum in
the church.
Another story of a miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin found
in a bush is told in the Breton city of
Rostrenen.
|
It is well known for its magnificent gothic Chateau which originates
from the 11th Century and has been owned by the Rohan family since the
15th Century, they in fact still live there to this day. With its three
majestic towers dominating La Vallee de L'Oust, and its splendid
flamboyant gothic facade, Josselin, home to the courageous
captains Beamanoir and Clisson and their property des Rohans, offers a
remarkable testimony of feudal architecture and of the Renaissance.
Josselin (in Breton, Josilin) is a small city of about 2,500
inhabitants and with the neighbouring city of Ploërmel, Josselin
is among the main cities of the area called Porhoët, lit., the country
in the woods. Josselin is separated from the Gulf of Morbihan by the
moors of Lanvaux.
The medieval architecture can still be seen throughout Josselin and
it seems as if every twist and turn of the old streets hides a wonderful
historical gem. It is worth seeing the gargoyle Basilique Notre Dame du
Roncier (our Lady of the Brambles) with its beautiful 15th and 16th
century stained glass windows. The Basilica also contains the tomb of
Olivier de Clisson, one of the most successful local warriors in the
many centuries of battles recorded in the region.
There is a fine selection of bars and restaurants, a number of them
located next to the river and also in the town square
that offers many restaurants and cafes overlooking the Basilica de Notre
Dame du Roncier. Josselin has been awarded the status
Petite Cité de Caractère (little city of character) and is well worth a
visit during your stay in Brittany .
Josselin is also on the famous Nantes de Brest canal
which is
busy in summertime. It's wonderful to stroll along the canal side
watching all the colourful barges slowly passing by.
GETTING THERE: Josselin is 80km west of
Rennes via the N24.
- middle of July for the medieval festival.
- Remember, shops and banks close between 12.00 -
14.00 (except Super U supermarket that is open all day weekdays but
closed all day Sunday).
|
Paimpont
 |
At Paimpont the Abbey and Lake nestle close to the town. It is
quite a bustling little thoroughfare full of shops selling Arthurian
books of local folktales and an array of crystals and the finest hand
painted korrigans. (Brittany's goblin folk.) Here too are some fine
tabacs, cafes and restaurants were you can drink some very strong
coffee, the local cider and eat a startling variety of crepes - savoury,
sweet or even doused in liquor and set aflame.
A wealth of wonders lies within the region of central Brittany, and
gastronomic delights, fine wines and local Breton cider await the caller
at every restaurant and bar. Villages and towns of breath taking beauty
abound, set against a backdrop of magnificent countryside. Here is a
magical place where the traveller can rest easy and forget the pace of
modern life, a place where your soul can be recharged with the wonder of
life - the beauty of Brittany. |
Combat des Trentes (Fight of the Thirty) |
Ploermel and Josselin --- 30 vs 30 |
 |
The local
legendary battle between neighboring towns |
In the middle of the XIVth century, Brittany was
trashed by the War of Succession of Brittany. There were two
pretenders: Charles de Blois, supported by the King of France,
and Jean de Montfort, supported by the King of England. The
Blois party hold the castle of Josselin, commanded by Jean de
Beaumanoir, whereas the Montfort party hold the neighbouring
city of Ploërmel, located 12 km east of Josselin, commanded by
Bemborough, aka Bembro. The two commanders decided to set up a
fight involving 30 knights from each camp. The authorized arms
were sword, dagger, axe and spear. The fight, later known as Combat
des Trentes (Fight of the Thirty), took place on 27
March 1351, on the Moor of Mi-Voie (lit., Midway), between
Josselin and Ploërmel. The place is called today La Pyramide and
the fight is recalled by a granit column (Obélisque des
Trentes). The fight lasted all the day long. The Montfort
troop included 20 English, six Germans and four Bretons. Blois
eventually won: Captain Bembro was killed with eight of his
companions and the other knights were caught and brought back to
Josselin. Beaumanoir was injured during the fight and asked for
water, to which his lieutnant Geoffrey de Blois answered:
Bois ton sang, Beaumanoir, la soif te passera ! (Drink your
blood, Beaumanoir, your thurst will pass!)
The War of Succession of Brittany ended in 1364, when Charles de
Blois was defeated and killed in Auray. |
Rennes
 |
Rennes is the regional capital of Brittany or Bretagne which lies between the English Channel
to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south As
the 2,000 year- old regional power seat, Rennes has seen many
armies batter its walls. Today Rennes is one of France's fastest
growing metro areas with nearly 600,000 locals.
It has a very pleasant old quarter where you will find a massive
Saturday market which is claimed to be one of the largest in
France.[ from 6am to 1:30PM, ]
There are almost 60,000 students here which gives the town a
vibrant night life. Some streets, such as the Rue Saint Michel,
have only one type of shop on both sides: Bars! (The locals
actually call "Rue Saint Michel" "la rue de la soif", which
means the "Street of Thirst").
For adults, the Musée des Beaux Arts, housed in the former university) has some excellent art
galleries. The
Musée de Bretagne is housed in the same building. The
Jardin du Thabor in the Rue du Paris is impressive.
Kids like nearby
Vitré or
Fougères.
English
website. |
GETTING HERE |
AIR:
Rennes airport has
budget flights, to and from
Southampton thanks to
Flybe, or Dublin with
Aerlinguswhich has good offers. The airport is less than 5km
away from the city center, and bus No 57 links it with the city.
One hour away, Dinard's airport offers other cheap options, with
for example a connection to London with
Ryanair.
TRAIN: The easiest way to get to Rennes from
Paris
is through Gare Montparnasse. There are TGVs almost every
30 minutes and the ride is 2hrs and 3 min. Tickets are available
on the
SNCF website, and between 25 and 65 Euros for one way. If
you're under 26 years old, and planning to travel in France by
train, get the "carte 12-25" (49 €) which will offers you 50%
off most of the time.
BUS: Rennes has also an international and
local bus station, right next to the rail station. This is where
you can get information about Illenoo (see below) and
where buses such as
Eurolines arrive in the city. |
Festivals in Rennes
|
- February
Travelling and Travelling Junior. It's Rennes
Métropole movie festival. Traveling explores a culture
focusing on a city every year. 2008 edition will focus on
Buenos Aires and will take place from february 9th to the
19th.
- April
Mythos. It's the festival of the arts of word. Tales,
stories, french song,
- May
Rock'n Solex. The oldest student festival of France. In
2007, it celebrated it's 40th birthday. This festival is a
mix of music and
solexs' race.
- July
Les Tombées de la Nuit. It's an art festival where many
spectacles take places in public places. Alternative,
classic or traditional music, animations, expositions is the
concept of that festival. It always take place the first
week of july.
Quartiers d'été. An outdoor festival organized by
volunteer youngsters. Concerts, cinema, animations,
games,... During the 3rd week of july.
- November
Yaouank. 3rd week end of november
- December
Les Transmusicales
|
the Oust
river canal from Nantes to Brest,
 |
The canal from Nantes to Brest, flows with
the Oust river which has
 |
There are 328 locks creating the Oust river canal from
Nantes to Brest |
chiseled imposing features along its
way. You will discover Brittany's only gorges framed by cliffs.
No longer used for commerce the canal is a well developed park
with landing stages, canoe stairs and picnic areas built
in wood or stone, in a matter that helps them blend into the the
natural beauty of the settings. The marshlands encourage a large
and diverse population of wildlife. The flora features a
lush cover of maritime pine and Wisteria.
The original idea of such a canal is dated
from the 16th century but it's only when Brest was blockaded by
the English fleet that Napoleon I of France decided to build
this canal to assure a safe inland link between the two largest
military ports of the French Atlantic front. Building started in
1811 and the inauguration by Napoleon III of France was
celebrated in 1858.
Houseboats: Busy
commercial traffic on the Oust came to an end in the 1920s ,
but the relatively recent development of river-tourism has seen
many boats take permanent residency along the riverside and
navigation is well maintained. Houseboats can find landing
stages in different places along the banks: Bains-sur-Oust,
Saint Vincent-sur-Oust, Peillac.
magpie island:
The île aux Pies (the magpie island), set between Bains-sur-Oust
and Saint Vincent-sur-Oust, with rocky peaks towering at
50 meters heights is a paradise for rock climbers. The
well marked trails make this area a great spot for hiking and
cycling as well.

The Glenan mortar ,is the best known fishing spot from
yellow bellies”, to the eels.
Enjoy an unhurried journey with time to picnic
beside the locks and flower-bedecked cottages. Pedal along the
Blavet Valley, following the slowly meandering waters of the
river and pause for swimming or watersports in the cool waters. |
Beaches
 |
With hundreds of miles of coastline,
Brittany is blessed with stunning beaches. Some of Brittany’s
beaches are in seaside towns such as Dinard, Carnac and Benodet.
Others are more natural – like those along the Pink Granite
Coast
One of the closest beaches is at Conleau, Vannes, where a
retaining wall ensures the tide is always in!
A nearby sandy
beach that has been recommended for children is at Port
Louis
Other popular beach locations include Carnac, Larmor Plage, La
Trinite Sur Mer and St Pierre-Quiberon, and all these beaches
are recommended for children.
La Grande Plage
Canac was recently recommended as one of the best 20
beaches in France (France magazine May 2006). Children will love
the clean soft yellow sand and the beach is looked after well.
There is a nice beachside promenade to walk along, and plenty of
places to eat and drink.
Damgan
is where the French tend to holiday and there is a wide variety
of stunning beaches with the town and restaurants less than 100m
from the beach.
There are also quieter beaches, where you will find nature
reserves, sand dunes and open spaces including the long dune
belt from Gavres to Penthièvre.
All around the Golf du Morbihan there are tiny beaches and rocky
coves where you should be able to find a spot just for
yourselves.
The beaches are invariably unspoilt and clean. The most
popular coastal areas can get busy in peak season, but there are
always quieter alternatives waiting to be discovered.
The
Cote Sauvage is exposed and generates large rolling
waves from the Atlantic, so proves popular with surfers.
Top
Ten Beaches @ aboutbrittany.com |
La Baule and its coast
|
It is hard to imagine what La Baule was like in the mid-19th Century
when all that was there was an expanse of sand dunes. Although it is one
of the most famous French seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast, La
Baule is a relatively new town, being founded at the end of the 19th C
when tourism was just beginning to take off in a big way. Today, this
stretch of coast, which includes La Baule, Pornichet and Le Pouliguen,
forms an almost uninterrupted stretch of seafront, consisting of large
buildings and smart hotels, some 9 miles long.
La Baule – Luxury hotels, a casino and magnificent villas are lined
up behind a concrete wall that dominates 4 miles of the resort's long,
white, sandy beach. The Avenue du General-de-Gaulle is the town's main
shopping centre. Few of the handsome villas are left there, although
there are some among the pinces of the Benoit district. The SNCF (French
railway) station through which the first holiday-makers discovered La
Baule is now classified as an historic monument and is worth a visit.
|
Department of
Morbihan |
Named after the Morbihan, the enclosed sea that is the
principal feature of the coastline. Morbihan is definitely the
one in which the variety and
magnificence
of these neolithic monuments are the most striking: menhirs,
dolmens, cromlechs (circles of menhirs), tumulus, and cairns
(called galgals in Brittany). The most ancient megaliths in
France are situated in Brittany (4500 to 5000 B.C.). Much later,
the Celts, who were Indo-European tribes, came to populate
Western Europe. |
|
|
Unique
language |
The region possesses a unique culture, where three languages are
spoken, French, Breton - western Brittany, and Gallo - eastern
Brittany. The Breton language is most similar to Welsh and
Cornish with many words totally identical and it is said
resulted from the influx of immigrants from the south of Britain
in the 5th-6th centuries.
Gallo sounds a bit like Norman French, Jersiais (Jersey French),
Dgèrnésiais (Guernsey French), Sercquiais (Sark French) and the
extinct language of Alderney - Auregnais, as the roots are the
same. A Romansque language Gallo is one of the Langues d'oïl
which are languages originating in the Northern territories of
Roman Gaul which were Northern France, a part of Belgium and the
Channel Islands. One of the Metro stations in Rennes has signs
in French and Gallo. " |
legends
& secrets |
Merlin became very popular in the Middle
Ages. Merlin's popularity has remained constant. He figures in
works from the Renaissance to the modern period. In The
Idylls of the King, Tennyson makes him the architect of
Camelot. Mark Twain, parodying Tennyson's Arthurian world,
makes Merlin a counterpoint to the technocratic rational hero
who eventually destroys his civilization. Finding time for soul
work and our dreams is easy in this forest. |
Water
Spas |
Modern Thalassotherapy, whose benefits are
scientificly approved, is born in Brittany nearly two-hundred
years ago. So, while teams of specialists take care of your
health, forget all the tireness, and worry about nothing else
but your own sake. Build up your personal fitness- programm, and
after each treatment, take the time to go for a walk in the
invigorating seaside, or to visit cultural sights.You feel
new-born? |
Fishing |
Brittany has some of the best fishing rivers and lakes in France , as
well as something like one third of France 's coastline, giving a great
variety for keen anglers.
Fishing permits can be bought for a day, two week or annual
period, and will cover fishing in the whole department. So if
you buy a permit in Morbihan, you can fish throughout Morbihan.
In addition you can also pay an extra fee to upgrade your permit
to cover all of Brittany. The two week fishing permit used to
only be available during the summer months.....it is now
available all year round!
|
NANTES:
Greenest
City in Europe |
In 2003, the French weekly
L'Express voted Nantes to be the "greenest city" in
France. In 2004,
Time magazine described Nantes as
"the most livable city in all of Europe"
"Recycling and conservation programs have
resulted in 1,000 hectares of greenery and 95 parks and squares
around the Nantes area; 70% of all waste is recycled. There are
500 km of bicycling and walking paths, which often hug the banks
of the Erdre River. Even the city center feels light and airy,
with wide sidewalks and streets, and a skateboarding park near
the heart of town. But Nantes' pride and joy is its
transportation system, which includes a tramway network and a
fleet of 155 buses that run on natural gas." [source]
|
Weather |

France
is temperate but the climate varies including cold winters and
hot summers in the north and centre while the South of France is
Mediterranean in outlook with mild winters and hot summers.The
south coast of Brittany can be scorching in July and August. The
Finistère area of western Brittany tends to be the coolest in
summer, while the south coast of Morbihan, benefiting from a
sunny microclimate, is the warmest. In winter time, Brittany
benefits from a remarkably mild climate but can go below 0 with
the help of a north wind.
Climate Trends in France |
Festivals in Bretagne |
Festivals-bretagne by tourismebretagne.com
|
Calendar of Events in Brittany @ aboutbrittany.com |
May
Art Rock -
Ploermel Carnaval |
 |
Ploermel holds its famous Carnaval on 2 Sundays in
May. In 2008 it hosted the FECC World Canival Congress
and the night parade was on the last Sundayand the day
parade was the 1st Sunday [more] |
July
Festival du bout du monde -
Bobital -
Au pont du Rock - Last
week end, in Malestroit (Morbihan).
Les vieilles charrues -
August
Festival interceltique de Lorient
La Route du Rock -
December: Ploermel Christmas events |
Food &
Drink |
Breton Specialities |
- Cider and drinks made from cider such as Pommeau which is sweet drink a little like an apple sherry.
- Chouchen - "hydromel"
which is made from honey.
- Crepes not just
the world-famous sweet crêpes, but also savoury
galettes.
- Far Breton - a flan filled with egg custard and
prunes.
- Galettes - Buck wheat pancakes (black flour
used for these savoury galletes) and crepes, pancakes made
from white flour. The former are always filled with savoury
filings and the latter are both desserts or have savoury
filling. Galette Sausice are sold from vans or produced at
fetes frequently and are barbecued sausages with a galette
wrapped round them. You can purchase a "double" which is a
double galette not sausage. Mustard and tomato sauce are
available to be added.
- Guémené Andouille (peppery pork sausage)
- Kouign-amann - a buttery cake made from bread
dough which can be plain or with almonds or apples. Try
to sample them piping hot,
- "Lait Ribot" is a sour full cream milk and
frequently drunk when eating galettes or crepes.
- Seawater beer.
- Traou Mad - a flat biscuit.
- Oysters (huitres): the best are from
Cancale, a village near to Saint-Malo.
- Mussels (moules): fished in the place
and available in any restaurants.
|
Morbihan Attractions |
 |
|
 |
Yves Rocher welcomes you to La Gacilly, his hometown and for a
privileged moment dedicated to nature and beauty
http://yves-rocher.com An amazing botanical garden
featuring a musical journey with vegetal instrumentation |
 |
branfere.com
discover the wild animals of Africa. The same city has a
paper-mill with gigantic water wheel which hs made paper using
centuries old techniquies. The first paper mills in the town
were built by the Romans
lafermedumonde.com
kid's park, with 400 animals from 5 continents by foot or
mini-train |
 |
sellor-decouverte.fr
Hennebont Nation studfar |
 |
sellor-nautisme.com
calm or white water
rafting river hikes equipment for hire |

prehistoire.com
at Malansac bwtween
Vannes & Redon 30 life -size scenes from the time of the
dinosaurs |
|
Office de Tourisme du Pays de Guer *Place
de la gare 56380 GUER - Tél. 02.97.22.04.78 / Fax.
02.97.22.08.49
Ouvert toute l'année
guer-coetquidan-tourisme.com
Office de Tourisme du Pays de
Malestroit **17 place du Bouffay
56140 MALESTROIT - Tél. 02.97.75.14.57 / Fax. 02.97.73.71.13
Ouvert toute l'année
malestroit.com
Office de Tourisme du Pays de
Josselin **Place
de la Congrégation 56120 JOSSELIN - Tél. 02.97.22.36.43 - Fax.
02.97.22.20.44
Ouvert toute l'année -
paysdejosselin-tourisme.com
Office de Tourisme du Pays de Mauron
en Brocéliande ** Place Henri
Gillard 56430 TREHORENTEUC - Tél. 02.97.93.05.12 / Fax.
02.97.73.80.39
Ouvert toute l'année
valsansretour.com
Syndicat d'Initiative du Porhoët
Place du Martray 56490 LA TRINITE PORHOET -
Tél. 02.97.93.94.34 / Fax. 02.97.93.97.58
porhoet.fr
Comité Régional du Tourisme en
Bretagne
Ce site vous permet de découvrir la Bretagne.
Renseignements pratiques : Transport, hébergements, activités
sportives…
tourismebretagne.com
Pays Touristique de l'Oust à
Brocéliande
Brocéliande to Oust: stays, practical information ...
oust-broceliande-vacances.com
Centre d'activités équestres de
Tréhorenteuc - Le Terrier 56430
Tréhorenteuc- 02 97 93 01 05
perso.orange.fr/caeb
|
|
|