Brittany Focus

 sharing your passion for France

  La Folie 22210 Le Cambout Brittany

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About Brittany

What to do in Brittany

 

Places of interest in the area

Josselin

The medieval town of Josselin is set on the banks of the river Oust. It is well known for its magnificent gothic Chateau which has its origins in the 11th Century. The Chateau has been owned by the Rohan family since the 15th Century and they in fact still live there till this day. Much of Josselin retains its medieval architecture and it seems as if every twist and turn of the old streets hides an historical gem. Keep an eye out for the gargoyled Basilique Notre Dame du Roncier (our Lady of the Brambles) with its beautiful 15th and 16th century stained glass windows.

With a fine selection of bars and restaurants there is simply nothing better than enjoying a drink or a spot of food by the river or in one of the historic squares. There's so much to see and do in the town, it's easy to see why Josselin has been awarded the status Petite Cité de Caractère (literally 'little city of character').

Pontivy

Pontivy straddles the river Blavet which runs from the hills of central Brittany down to the sea at Lorient. Canalized all the way and joined to the Nantes Brest canal, this was a major waterway and made Pontivy an important port. The old, medieval town, with its pedestrian streets and open squares, is pleasant to wander around and has some interesting shops and restaurants, as well as a weekly market in the main street.

Pontivy also boasts a castle which was built by the influential Rohan family in the 15th century. Although there is not much of it left, it is nevertheless quite imposing, raised above the end of the main street, and it is open for visits daily.

Lac du Guerledan

The area around Lake Guerledan is perfect for all manner of water sports, cycling, walking, bird watching. The Lake is 400 hectares and the forest is over 3000 hectares with many winding paths and trails throughout. If you have a head-for heights? you could also try some organized rock climbing and ab sailing. There are 4 small sandy beaches witch offer safe bathing for children. Restaurants, fast food and bars, populate the waters edge.

L'Abbaye de Bon Repos

Nearby is L'Abbaye de Bon Repos which was originally built in 1184 and has been successively ruined and rebuilt over the centuries. Its superb setting next to the River Blavet and the Nantes-Brest Canal is well worth a visit: there are weirs, salmon stairs, a former water mill, a mediaeval stone bridge over the river, a restaurant and a very interesting fossil/jewelry/objects d'art shop. Opposite there is a creperie/bar where you can sit and drink watching the world go by. On Sunday mornings from Easter to October there is an interesting local market where traders sell organic produce and crafts - it’s not just for tourists and is also popular with locals in Brittany. The abbey is now being restored and to raise funds for this a grand ‘Son et Lumiere’ is presented around the second weekend in August when around 400 local people, horses, dogs, etc, enact the history of the abbey and the area. It is a fantastic event starting around 10.30pm and ending around 12.30am the annual spectacle with fireworks, music, projections onto the building, and costume scenes. For more details, see their web site at www.bretagnenet.com/bonrepos