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Discovering the Coast Brittany is blessed with 800 kms of beautiful white sandy beaches. There is a huge choice , all within easy driving distance, where you can enjoy all your favorite watersports, from snorkeling to kite surfing. There are hundreds of hidden bays, with sandy beaches where you may not find another soul. The larger commercial beaches are busier, but not overcrowded even in high season. They all have good facilities and are unspoilt and clean, many have lifeguards in attendance. La Grande Plage
La Grande Plage at Carnac was voted one of the best top 20 beaches in France. Carnac stones - 45 minutes
Just north of Carnac beach is the Megalithic Standing Stones, some dating back to 3300BC, although exact date in not known. Worth a visit , combining it with a day at the beach. Vannes - 25 minutes Vannes is a fascinating city. Its quays are lined with seafood restaurants and cafés full of tourists taking life easy for a change! Head for the centre where the the old walled town is. Explore the ramparts and cathedral, where there is a tangle of half timbered medieval houses and crooked streets. Park the car and explore on foot, its much easier. | Trinité-sur-mer - 45 minutes |
This attractive town is nestled in the middle of the Bay of Quiberon. Primarily a port, with a seaside quay. Excellent seafood restaurants. One of our favourite pastimes when we come here, is our lunchtime treat , enjoying a bowl of Moules Mariner and Frites, delicious, and they are excellent here. The town is also well known for its watersport competions and sailing schools www.ot-trinite-sur-mer.fr
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Hennebont - 45 Minutes
An old medieval town built on two banks of the river Blavet. Explore the old ramparts and monuments, take a stroll through the botanical park.
The National Stud farm was established in 1966 and is famous for its quality of riding and teaching. There are 40 horses and various demonstrations take place throughout the year. The Stud is open all year.
On July 28th and 29th there is a medieval Festival, which includes jousting, combat and a medieval market.
www.hennebont.net
Port Crouesty and Port Navalo - 1hr 15 minutes
What little gems these two are, located on the coast of Arzon. Port Crouesty has more of a cosmopolitan feel. It has a lovely marina, which harbours some very nice sailing yachts and a
good selection of shops and restaurants. There is a good sandy beach called Plage de Fogeo. Port Navalo is a traditional port of Arzon at the entrance to the Golfe du Morbihan. it also has a good sandy beach but with a few more rocks. Take a stroll around the headland and take in the views across the bay. From here you can take a boat trip for a tour of the Golfe du Morbihan or visit the beautiful Breton Islands.
The Islands of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, Houat and Hoedic
These islands are so beautiful. You can take your car to Belle Ile, but not to the other islands, they have to be explored on foot or by bicycle. Boats and ferries to these are from Port Navalo Le Trinite sur Mer, Vannes or the Quiberon.
Belle Ile is the largest of the islands 20km by 9km with a coastline of 110km. It owes its name to its beauty and diversity of its landscapes. Its seaward side has a Cote Sauvage (wild coast) all of its own, where the Atlantic winds batter the sparce, heather clad cliffs. The coast facing the mainland is cut into valleys with large sandy beaches and is where the sheltered towns and villages are nestled. The island also has its own airfield.
Houat and Hoedic These little islands lie between Belle - Ile and the mainland. Houat counts barely 400 population in winter and Hoedic is only 130, but the two communities sustain themselves by fishing and in the summer with tourists, Houat has two hotels and Houadic just the one.
Despite the relative shelter of the Golfe du Morbihan, these islands are raked by wind all year round. For those seeking solitude they are ideal, being all but free of motor vehicles.
Above all these islands offer the chance to relax, close your eyes and feel the sun and wind on your face, slowly reaching that lovely state of tranquillity that enables you to distiguish between what is mundane and what is truly important in this life.
Lorient - 1 hour
Because Lorient was bombed flat in the second world war, then rebuilt with haste more than taste, it tends to get overlooked in the tourist guides. Explore the town, you will find a good selection of shops, traditional markets, creperies and fish restaurants. Lorient is also France's second biggest fishing port after Boulogne, boat trips from the quay take you around the harbour.
One of the towns intersting places to visit is the Wartime German submarine pens.
www.lorient.fr
Ile de Groix
To reach the Ile de Groix you have to catch a ferry from Lorient, leaving the car behind. The crossing takes 45 minutes and you arrive at a little island 8km x 4km made up of dramatic cliffs and sheltered sandy beaches.
Like the other islands, Groix is recommended for walkers and cyclists. Scuba divers should head for Grands-Sables beach, a stretch of white sand giving outstandingly clear vision some distance off shore.
Auray - 45 minutes
Between Lorient and Vannes lies the medieval town of Auray. Auray has everthing you would expect of a historic town. It has in summer a tourist train to Pontivy and a tranquil habour, with great seafood restaurants. It is also where, in 1776, Benjamin Franklin landed to seek help from the doomed Louis XVI in the American War of Independence.
www.auray.fr
Exploring the Countryside
All the timings next to the town names are approximate, this is how long it takes us to drive to these destinations.
Josselin - 10 minutes
Josselin is a stunning medieval town, famous for its Chateau that has overlooked the town and River Oust since the middle ages.
When you wander around the town, you will soon discover an excellent choice of restaurants, cafés and bars, with cobbled streets and quirky little gift shops. Visit the Chateau, hire boats on the river, or enjoy a relaxing lunch or dinner here.
Climb to the top of the church steeple ( not for the faint hearted) and experience some fantastic views across the town and river.
Market day is Saturday in the town centre.
www.josselin.fr
Lizio - 5 minutes
| Lizio is a proud and beautiful little hamlet of approx 750 people, steeped in history, with origins dating back to the 5th Century. For refreshments there is a restaurant, creperie grill, snack bar and a great little bar Retour aux Sources, where Natalie who speaks English will give you a warm welcome. There is an Insectarium to visit here and on the way into Lizio at Ville Stéphant, there is the museum of moving parts, very interesting. The links below will show you more. |
www.poeteferrailleur.com
www.lizio.fr
Le Roc St Andre - 5 minutes
| A pretty village set on the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal, where you will find a post office, garage, restaurants, tabac, hairdresser, butchers, and bakers. A little street market is on Sunday mornings. |
Malestroit - 15 minutes
| Founded in 987 on the banks of the River Oust, the town has played an important role in the history of France. Malestroit was at one point a stopping point for pilgrims traveling to Compostelle, and in 1343 part of the 100 year war, with the signing of the treaty in the Chapel of Madeleine. During the 2nd World War the French Resistance was very active in the area. Again plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. Market day is on a Thursday. www.malestroit.com
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St Marcel - 20 minutes
Situated 2 kms west of Malestroit , it was here that a very fierce battle took place in June 1944. The Breton marquis (guerrilla Resistance fighters ) joined by Free French Forces parachuted in from England, successfully diverting the local German troops from the main Normandy invasion movements. Today, on this battle site you can visit the Musée de la Résistance Bretonne with 1500m2 of covered area displaying memorabilia. Outside there are tanks, jeeps and big guns. There is also an American half-track which takes you on a 20 minutes tour of the wooded park. www.resistance-bretonne.com |
Ploermel - 20 minutes
Ploermel is a bustling market town with a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants, it also has a cinema and a new bowling complex. The Lac au duc, is Brittany’s biggest natural lake of 570 acres a 16km circuit. Boat hire, along with all activities can be found here. Details on our activity pages. Market day is on a Saturday. www.ploermel.com |
Rochefort en Terre - 25 minutes
This fortress town has to be one of the most beautiful places to visit. It is certainly one of the most visited communes in Brittany, and even the drive to get here is through stunning countryside and forest. The town is without question one of the most beautiful architectural sites of Brittany. It is also famous for is Christmas lights, using over 6km of small light bulbs, which actually makes the whole town twinkle, just magical. Don’t forget to visit the chocolate shop. There is also a candle shop, restaurants, souvenirs, biscuits and other lovely shops to browse. www.rochefort-en-terre.com |
The Brocéliande Forest - 30 minutes
If only they could talk all the beech, oak, birch, chestnut and pine trees would have many stories to tell, about wicked fairies and magic spells. The forest today is a wonderful place to spend the day and explore. It is a haven of peace, as quiet as it is secretive. Head for Paimpont and start there. Go to the tourist office and get all your free info and maps on where to go, and how to find the Valley of no return, Merlin’s grave and the Fountain of Barenton, to name a few. Explore these ancient woodlands on foot, or on a bike, or even a horse. You may not find every single magical place but you will certainly fall under the forests spell and it will stay with you forever. Go on let your imagination run wild!!!!
www.paimpont.fr |
Pontivy - 45 minutes
Pontivy is made up of two towns wrapped around each other. One is medieval with its streets full of twists and turns and half-timbered houses, the other a geometric Napoleonic town. The town is situated in a very rural part of Brittany known as the Blavet Valley. The River Blavet and the Nante Brest canal both run through this town. The town boasts a magnificent 15th century and a 16th Century church. Plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. Market day here is on a Monday. www.pontivy.fr |
