Bretagne | Brittany
 |
This region is a real favotite. It has the following Departmetns: (56) Morbihan with Vannes as it capital. A very interesting city to visit; (35) Ille et Vilaine with its capital of Rennes, another city we enjoyed; (29) Finistère with the capital city of Brest; (22) Cotes d'Armor with its capital of Saint Brieuc. We made some very good friends who live in Brittany so we have traveled in this Region a number of times. We like it. It is different in geography and culture and this is off the well-beaten North American tourist route. Some travel books refer to Brittany as a region with a personality, both strong and mysterious. |
Carnac
 |
So we have never been to Stonehedge, and we should go there, but we were impressed with Carnac. Why are those rocks there? I also like the fact that at the time we visited Carnac we just drove up, the road come along one of the fields, there were the rocks. You parked and were free to walk through the field among the 2,935 memhirs. The age of the stones span quite a distance as evidently, oldest of the stones date back to the Middle Neolithic Period and some of the most recent one are from the Early Bronze Age. The church in the town is also interesting as it dates back to the 17th Century. |
 |
Dinan
 |
 |
A town of cobblestone streets and old timber houses. The gray granite gives the town a subtle look but the window-boxes with flowers bring colour to the town. You will enjoy it here and it is one of the towns in Brittany that should not be missed. The centre of the town is the Place des Cordeliers. Along here and the rue de l'Apprt are timber houses. The Church of St. Malo has 15th Century cloisters that have been restored. Walk down the rue du Jerzual, it will take you down the hill to the port, the area of the town along the river. |
Josselin
We are making our way towards Vannes and decided to stop in Josselin. It was interesting and the fact that a medieval festival was in progress made it all the more interesting.
The château dates back to the 11th Century. But later in the 12th Century when Henry II tried to take hold of Brittany and lost, he had the chateau torn down. A few years later the château was re-built but it was to be doomed yet again as in the 17th Century during the religious wars it was sacked. Luckily it was rebuilt in 1860 and here is stands today.
A good day and evening here. We called our friends, the Le Goueff's, in Vannes, to let them know we are arriving tomorrow. Oh, by the flood of french language over the phone I knew I would be some trouble but heck, after taking French up to the University level in Canada, it was bound to come back!
Rennes
 |
 |
Located about 100 km fron Nantes and 348 from Paris, much of Rennes was built after a fire in 1720 pretty well wiped out the city. The area around the cathedral and Rue Saint-Georges will has a medieval look despite the rebuilding that took place. When we first arrived the size of Rennes was more than we wanted but after we stopped and walked along the river and I found a number of good pen stores the place took on a different feeling for me! |
The Place de la République, which is down by the Vilaine River, is the heart of the town. The Palais du Commerce was built in the style of Louis XIV, constructed between 1868 to 1932. The Hôtel de Ville, pictured above, with its bell tower and flanking pavillions is pure Louis XV. So there is a grand feel about the place.
If you walk along Rue St-Georges, this is where you will find the oldest of the houses that still exist in Rennes. The Notre-Dame which is the Church of St. Mélaine was at one time an abbey church and has a pleasant cloister built in 1683.
This is also a good town to make rail connections if you are going to travel the area by other than car.
Rochefort-en-Terre
Rochefort-en-Terre is about a forty-five minute drive from Vanne and it is said that this town represents the real Bretagne as it existed in the past.
Here is a village, with incredible stone houses and buildings, flowers everywhere.
Just walk around and you will find yourself with camera in hand as the town is what we call a real photoshoot.
The 12th Century church is spotted with moss and the light through the stained glass windows gives a feeling of something that is just short of all out spirtual.
Auray St Goustan
The town of Auray St Goustan sits at the end of a long narrow inlet from the Bay of Morbihan not far from Vanne. Here the streets are lined with 15th and 16th century houses as this was once a major port along the coast.
It is here where Benjamin Franklin landed, and stayed, when he came to France to ask Louis XVI to help with the American War of Independence.
Vitre
 |
 |
We were impressed when we arrived in Vitre. A massive chateau creates an impressive wall around the town. Inside are pleasant timber-houses and quite streets to walk. The chateau was built in 1060 as a spur by the Vilaine River. At the time, up till the 15th century, Brittany was an independent country and Vitre was one of the border towns between Brittany and France. So it needed a substantial defense. |
Six or so of the rooms were done up in tapestries and we thought it was worth our while to take the tour.
We were luckily to be there on a Saturday morning when a market was in full process and that really added to the flavor of being in this small town. Flowers, vegetables and chickens were everywhere. Of course one of the great things about being in the markets is the ability to pick up great food for a picnic. We had a roasted chicken, a baguette and some wine for lunch. Oh yes, we are in France.
Vannes
 |
 |
 |
The flower beds along the ramparts with its towers provide great views of the town. Lots of timbered-houses, and pleasant town core. Karen felt so comfortable here she went to a hair salon and came out a "new woman" - it is a relaxing town to visit. Walk through the old Porte Prison to visit the cathedral. The cathedral dates from the 15th and 16th century and has an impressive Flamboyant Gothic doorway. Impressive tapestries are on the walls around the tomb of St. Vincent Ferrier.
Across from the cathedral is the covered market, the cohue, that dates from the 12th to 14th century.