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Local Area & Attractions Near our Gites in Brittany.
There are numerous
attractions a short drive from the cottages. A brief description of some
of the most popular is included here.
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Beaches in Brittany Brittany has 750 miles of coastline and some of the best beaches in France.
Those nearest to the cottages stretch east from Lorient towards the Presqu'
île de Quiberon and are approximately 40 minutes drive.
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The River Blavet in Brittany
One
of the most attractive features of the cottages is their proximity to the
River Blavet. The river was made into a canal under the orders of Napoleon
in the early 19th century so that his ships could be moved safely without
having to navigate the coastal waters occupied by the British fleet. The
Blavet joins the Nantes-Brest canal in Pontivy and enters the sea at Lorient.
It has 26 locks along its length and walking or cycling along the tow path
is an excellent way of exploring the countryside. To help you take advantage
of this, bicycles, rowing boats and canoes are available.
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Josselin Historic Town in Brittany The historic town of Josselin was founded in AD1000. In about 1370 the
original fortress was superseded by the present castle whose three circular
towers rise above the river Oust. Descendants of the original Rohan family
still live in the castle.
The picturesque old town of Josselin with its cobbled streets and
half-timbered houses lies just behind the castle. |
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Chapel art exhibition The 20 beautiful chapels of the Blavet valley mostly date from the 15th and
16th centuries. For the last 10 years a contemporary art exhibition has been
held in the chapels each summer. The chapels are concentrated within a
radius of 10 miles. St. Gildas, the nearest chapel to the cottages, is built
into a large rock overhanging the River Blavet and is only a short walk from
the cottages.
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Pontivy Historic Market Town Pontivy is the nearest large town to the gîtes and has a good selection of
shops, supermarkets and restaurants.
Pontivy's architecture is divided into two with a medieval centre of
timbered buildings and narrow winding lanes surrounded by stately Napoleonic
buildings. In 1804, Pontivy was renamed Napoleonville after Napoleon
Bonaparte decided to make the city his military base because of its
strategic position in the centre of Brittany. At this time Napoleon also
ordered the canalization of the River Blavet.
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| St Nicholas-des-Eaux
A 5-minute
drive or 40 minute walk along the tow path, which follows the meandering
bank of the River Blavet, leads to St. Nicholas des Eaux, a pretty riverside
village with several bars and restaurants.
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Bieuzy-les-Eaux
Bieuzy is the nearest village to the
gÎtes and has a bar and small supermarket. Many of the houses in the village
date back to the 16th century. |
Carnac, Beaches and Megaliths
Brittany is considered to be one of the most important megalithic sites in the
world. Menhirs (standing stones) and dolmens (table of stone resting on two
pillars) abound both on the coast and inland. Carnac has over 3000 menhirs
dating from around 4000 BC.
Pont-Aven
This artists haven was first established in the 1880s when Paul Gauguin and
fellow artists were drawn to the region. Today, Pont-Aven is a popular tourist
spot with numerous art galleries, cobbled streets, granite houses and river
bubbling through the town centre to the little port.
Gulf of Morbihan, Island
Hopping and
Sea Food
Morbihan is a Breton name meaning 'little sea' and the Gulf of Morbihan is a
vast lagoon dotted with islands. The area has an almost subtropical climate and
the islands and coastline are ideal for bird-watchers and sailors. There are
over 300 islands in the Gulf and tourist boats land at Ile aux Moines, Ile d'
Arz and Ile de Gavrinis.
Forest of Brocéliande - Legend of King
Arthur
When Celtic settlers arrived in the 6th century from Wales and Cornwall they
brought with them the tales of King Arthur. These legends became established in
the Forest of Brocéliande, where the Knights of the Roundtable are said to have
begun their quest for the Holy Grail and where the wizard Merlin was ensnared by
Viviane, Lady of the Lake.
Vannes, Port and Medieval Market Town
Vannes is the capital of Morbihan and is a historic and cosmopolitan town. In
the narrow and pedestrianized streets of the old quarter are shops and
restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Many of the brightly coloured
half-timbered buildings date back to the 16th century.
Golf at the Rimaison Course
The Rimaison 9 hole golf course is a 5-minute drive from our Gites.
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