Here we are back in my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of my lovely region of Bretagne in my belle France. And as usual , with several posts on this wonderful town I need to give you a look at its quant streets of Rochefort en Terre.
A bit of recap on the town. Rochefort-en-Terre is one of the towns of character and history , as in French « Petite Cité de Caractère », it is ,also , a Village Fleuri four flowers rating! or a flower town of France, and Les Plus Beaux Villages de France or the most beautiful towns of France designation. All worth it. During the annual TV show for choosing the most preferred town of the French it was chosen as well the Le Village préférés des français or the favorite town of the French on survey by TV station France 2 announce by Stéphane Bern in 2016. More in French, see video: Tourist office of Rochefort en Terre on the most preferred town of France 2016
As said we come here often and close to our home so all year around even Christmas where it has one of the best if not the best Christmas market in the west of France , me think. A brief on the Rochefort en Terre
It is surrounded by the towns of Pluherlin and Malansac. The city is crossed by the D 777 which runs westward towards Questembert and east towards La Gacilly, a deviation, the D 777a that allows to bypass the city by the north. In the southeast, the road D 21 connects Rochefort-en-Terre to Malansac .
From 1903, Alfred Klots, (more below) owner of the Castle, invites painters in the city and sets up tourist activities. He had the idea in 1911 to launch a competition throughout the city: that of the “flowered windows”, which became over time that of the “flower villages” or Village Fleuri de France today!
The streets are all lovely such as Place Saint Michel
Place du Puits
rue du Porte Cadre
And many others of course, do not have photos of all of them…! However, there is a nice story very nicely told by locals that I like to bring up here. Its an American-Breton!
Alfred Klots was born in France in 1875, from an American family of Baltimore, MD ,that practiced the silk trade. Very early reveals his artistic talent, this young painter will follow most of his training in New York before coming to live in Paris in 1901 It was then that he fell in love with Brittany. He buys the Castle or rather what’s left of it,
It is in ruins and only the stables had been converted into a dwelling in the 19C. In successive stages, he will revive it and it will become his castle in Brittany. In 1918-1919 he opened his home to the American Red Cross , which makes it a convalescent center for soldiers , which would be worth to him to receive the Legion of Honor after the war. A willingly patron, Alfred was also interested in the development of the local heritage; and in 1913, it established an annual competition which will make the village one of the most flower in France and as above the flower villages of France of today! . This American adopted by the local Rochefortais died in 1939.
His son Trafford Klots born in 1913, also devoted himself to painting. In 1940 when the war broke out he created the American Fund for relief to the Bretons, before engaging as an officer in the U S Army. In 1944, back in Rochefort en Terre, he finds intact the Castle and its collections saved thanks to the dedication of the gatekeeper. Trafford Klots will be made a Knight of the Legion of Honor by France. He died in 1976. Today, the Castle is a property of the Department of Morbihan that makes it live another way for our greatest pleasure.as a cultural center. At the slate time of the Sundial, their present, allied to the past has become an invaluable gift. that of a love story between Brittany and America! Nice story indeed!!!.
Some webpages to help plan your trip here and you must are
City of Rochefort en Terre on heritage
Tourist office of Rochefort en Terre on heritage
Tourist office of Brittany on Rochefort en Terre
Of course, I have written about the castle but that is in another post. For now enjoy the story, the history,the architecture and the streets of Rochefort en Terre!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 