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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.
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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
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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 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 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.
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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 
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
| Lac
au Duc (Duke's Lake )
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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."
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Josselin
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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.
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.
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Paimpont
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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) |
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Ploermel and Josselin --- 30 vs 30 |
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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. |
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Rennes
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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. |
| GETTING HERE |
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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 |
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| the Oust
river canal from Nantes to Brest,
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The canal from Nantes to Brest, flows with
the Oust river which has
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.
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
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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
A nearby sandy
beach that has been recommended for children is at Port
Louis 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. The Cote Sauvage is exposed and generates large rolling waves from the Atlantic, so proves popular with surfers. |
| La Baule and its coast |
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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
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| 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. " |
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| 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! |
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| 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]
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| Weather | |||||||||||
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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. |
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| Festivals in Bretagne | |||||||||||
| Festivals-bretagne by tourismebretagne.com | |||||||||||
| Calendar of Events in Brittany @ aboutbrittany.com | |||||||||||
May Art Rock -
July Festival du bout du monde - Bobital - Au pont du Rock - Last week end, in Malestroit (Morbihan). August Festival interceltique de Lorient December: Ploermel Christmas events |
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| Food & Drink | |||||||||||
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Breton Specialities |
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| Morbihan Attractions | |||||||||||
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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 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 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 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… 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
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