Paris1972-Versailles2003

And I continue my journey into wonderful travel corners of our world with my family, many nice memories, today more than ever. I came upon this older post of 2016, and such a lovely fortified city I will update on Hennebont.

Today was a sunny day to begin and then cloudy at the end, seems the Summer does not want to really begin. Already the first weekend of family vacations in France and the roads show it. I went back to one of my favorite towns to spent the day on secondary roads. Hennebont is a nice fortified city with ramparts by the river Blavet , old castle tower, nice churches, and the wonderful Haras National horse training site.

I live less than 30 minutes by car from it so it’s a natural weekend gateaway for us. I took the scenic road  D768 direction Quiberon, (you can take it from the voie express or freeway of the N165) but at Plouharnel just before crossing the isthmus to Quiberon peninsula you take the road D781 direction Erdeven/Lorient continue following direction Lorient until you see the sign for Hennebont, take the second traffic circle into Hennebont Centre and you come right underneath the viaduc into the center of town, centre ville or downtown.

We went up to the Church Notre Dame de Paradis (see post) and it’s wonderful high belltower, there was service going on so we do not disturb, and went away. The Haras National (see post) is about 300 meters from it bearing left but on Saturdays it is closed. The Porte Broerec’h or castle gate museum (see post) was open but already been there, you must see if as it is the history of the town and castle.  The Church Saint Caradec across the river Blavet and it’s huge cementary is another place to visit in town.

There is a viaduc done in 1861 and it is 222 meters long and 8 meters wide.  According to the levels of the river it can be from  20 to 27 meters high.  The Abbaye Notre Dame de Joye , worth to see it. The ramparts are here since 1250,  the porte de Broerec’h  takes it’s name from the Breton meaning  « Pays du roi Waroc », or country of the king of waroc , one of the oldest counties of Vannes. The museum Inside now dates from 1910 on the tower from the 13C , it has 10 rooms showing the history of the city ,traditions, costumes,paintings, river commerce, and WWII with model showing you the history.

The Haras were created in 1857 and it does a huge amount of activities all year round; spectacles, expositions, and discovery visits are held. You can tour in poneys, see an expo on Indians of the American plains ,see equestrians shows and combination costumes and history on the spectacle “1900” ,and included a guided visit.  It is open at different times according to the time of the year, so best to check the site before coming…

The city of Hennebont on its religious monuments: https://www.hennebont.bzh/decouvrir-hennebont/patrimoine/decouvrir-hennebont-au-fil/hennebont-au-fil-du-sacre/

The Haras National on horses: https://www.haras-hennebont.fr/en

The museum at Porte Broerëc’h: http://nouveau.musee-hennebont.fr/

In all you can easily spent a full day here, on your way to the beaches or the other wonderful towns of magical Morbihan dept 56. Kenavo!! (Breton language) Au revoir, Goodbye.

Hope you enjoy the brief discussion of a wonderful town of Hennebont, and hope you can visited one day, worth the detour. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

Moving right along with the updates on my older posts some since I began blogging, and staying on the Côtes d’Armor in the north of my lovely Bretagne;  I bring you to Ploumanac’h!

Well the intended trip was to reach this town of Ploumanac’h as we have seen on TV it was named the favorite town of the French , this was a survey contest on France FR2 television voted by the French. So , in addition , one of my colleagues at work is a native of the area , so more power for us to check it out.

We came following the D768  to the N12 then hooking up to Lannion again on the D767 ,and once pass it taking the D788 into the Ploumanac’h borough. Plenty of parking, we did it by the plage St Guirec

This borough or village is only about 3 km from Perros Guirec,(see post) and you can use the bus 15 coming from Lannion into Perros Guirec and Ploumanac’h. Coming to the village you see the parc des sculptures, and the port harbor , one of the most protected in all of Brittany.  You have the windmill or Moulin of Traouiero. There is a small beach call Bastille between the beach of Saint Guirec and the harbor of Ploumanac’h.

Another thing to see is the Chapelle Saint-Guirec from the 16C and restored in the 18C.  The lighthouse or phare de Ploumanac’h or better  phare de Mean Ruz originally from 1860 ,destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt in 1945! From this lighthouse you can see nicely the castle of Costaérés , and islands or île Renote as well as the Sept-îles.

The best part and the one we walked all over is on the pointe du Skewell that follows on the Sentier des Douaniers. Lastly ,on to the Oratory of Saint Guirec, done on a rock in the bottom of the Anse Saint Guirec.

The Sentier des Douaniers is wonderful beautiful sites along the coast and the rose granite rocks coming out of the water. The effect of having a huge swimming pool right in the ocean! A must to see and no wonders once called one of the most beautiful towns of France! Ploumanac’h that is.

This is the tourist office of Perros Guirec with a webcam on the Sentier des  Douaniers in Ploumanac’h: http://tourisme.perros-guirec.com/acces-direct/les-webcams-de-perros-guirec/webcam-du-grand-site-de-ploumanac-h.html

And the tourist office of Perros Guirec on the rocks of Ploumanac’h: http://tourisme.perros-guirec.com/decouvrez/rochers-et-landes-de-ploumanac-h.html

The tourist office of dept 22 Côtes d’Armor on Ploumanac’h: https://www.cotesdarmor.com/Decouvrir/Les-sites-incontournables/Ploumanac-h-et-la-Cote-de-Granit-Rose

The tourist office of Brittany on Ploumanac’h: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/pink-granite-coast-morlaix-bay/ploumanach-perros-guirec/

There you go a small spot in the area but packing a huge colorful environment of pure air and blue seas as well as sculpture stones! Hope you can make it one day to Ploumanac’h!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And continuing on my updating old posts in my blog and staying in the Côtes d’Armor of my lovely Bretagne; I take you this time to the wonderful beautiful Perros Guirec! Of course, this was an introductory post on the town, there is more in my blog.

We decided to rent a hotel for the night and go for the weekend to Perros Guirec (see post on Lannion). I have heard about it on French TV and my colleague at work is from here, so more reason to come and check it out.

We came following the road D768 up towards Pontivy, then passed it to the N12 direction Lannion, taking the D767 direction Guingamp first then Lannion and past it get on the D788 to Perros Guirec. Easy 2h30 by car.

Perros Guirec is a town in the departément 22 Côtes d’Armor in the region of Bretagne/Brittany/Breizh (breton language), the name means  Penn that means extremity end of the line and roz means a mount or promontory. It was called Penros in texts in  1198, 1267, 1453 ,and 1630, then  Penros Quiroc in the 16C,  Penros Guirec in 1516, Perros in 1592 ,and Peros-Quirec  in 1779.

We came into town along the coastal bay and the Port harbor and take up the corniche road boulevard de la mer up to the upper town with breathtaking views of the ocean. You past the Port Miniature a small kiddie boat ride on a lake. The Musée de l’Histoire et des Traditions de Bretagne (a wax museum) is by there very nice indeed. webpage: http://ville.perros-guirec.com/mes-loisirs/culture/le-musee-de-l-histoire-et-des-traditions-de-bretagne.html

We arrive in city center and immediately struck by the historical monuments such as the Church of Saint James (St Jacques) in place de l’église.  The Church is built with blocks of granite rose ,the bells sits in a dome with a pyramidal tower from the 17C; Inside there is roman style nave with beautiful arches, and chapters telling the story of the old testament where Adam and Eve are present. The second part of the Church was done in the 14C and there are renovation up to 1951.  You have magnificent statues such as the Christ aux outrages » near the door of the sacristy , end of the 15C early 16C. Another the  Christ en croix   that is under the transept in the middle dates from the 15C. There two others statue of the Virgin and of St John of recent work. The Saint Jacques in the altar retable from the 17C and Saint Guirec  from the 18C about the same time as the  statue of  Saint Yves ,  The Saint Laurent, from the 16C, the   Sainte Catherine , with a crown head as a queen from the same time of the 16C. The Pietà is damaged dates from the 16C ,the Saint Jean-Baptisteon the wall end of the baptism chapel is from the 17C. Passing the central nave you see two stained glass of modern work on the right dedicated to Notre Dame and on the left to Saint Yves.(see post)

We move on a bit uptown to see the Chapelle de la Clarté or Clarity, another historical monument in town. The Chapelle has great traditions, the main one tell us that from the 15C a Sir de Barac’h fell off the islands of the Sept Îles with heavey fog the death of the marines seems inevitable. All on their knees praying they made a vow to the Virgin of Notre Dame, they will built a chapel if they are saved from the fog. The miracle was done and Sir Barac’h built the Chapelle de Notre Dame de la Clarté. It was done in the flamboyant breton style and it has a block in the entry porch with a representation of the Annonciation facing a pieta. The traditions continue today with the Tantad (pardon/repent), done on August 14^st by 21h  and the most solemn act on August 15 . Some of the nice statues inside are from the 17C in polychrome wood such as The Virgin and the Child, Sainte Anne (patron saint of the Breton since 1914, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus), and Saint Peter. Also , the evangelists Saint Matthieu, Saint Marc, Saint Luc, and Saint Jean(John) in the angle of the Ascension. On the windows in the main oak door you see the portraits of St John the Baptist, Saint Peter, the Virgin of the Annociation and Angel with the sceptre in hand, the Vigin and the Child, Saint Paul armed with a sword symbol of the power of God expressed by his letters. All wonderful! (see post)

The port marina is wonderful with classy boats and benches, including some on tour with the typical breton boat the Sant C’hireg . webpage: https://www.santguirec.com/

The port marina webpage: http://nautisme.perros-guirec.com/faites-escale-aux-ports.html

You can past across from the port on the side street a wonderful parc des sculptures Christian Gad and Daniel Chée or sculptures park with granite rose stone in statues of Breton significance.

You can visit many beaches here, but our favorites  were the Plage de Trestrignel with free parking a seductive hilly road up the chemin de la messe, and the pointe du Château ;wonderful architecture in homes, and the Plage de Saint Guirec, with great shops, restos street parking and hôtels of beauty in nearby Ploumanac’h. There is Trestraou but in city center and bigger was not attractive to our tastes of a beach. See post.

One thing, at the chemin de la messe you past a small park with a great view of the sea. This is the Square Per Jakez Hélias. Just in front lies at 80 meters of water the British naval vessel Charybdis, who perished with 800 sailors on board after been sunk by the nazis in October 23, 1943. It is a mémorial resting place at sea and the view from the square reminds you of them; RIP and thank you.

And last but not least, see the Sentier des Douaniers, you can go by car park for free and then walk along the cliffs of the coast with excellent views of the sea, its adjacent islands, and continue on the granite rose coast to Plouamanac’h. Superbe!!

The tourist office of Perros Guirec: http://tourisme.perros-guirec.com/

Hope you enjoy this introduction to Perros Guirec take a closer look on my monument posts in my blog, this is a wonderful area many times mentioned in French publication as one of the best, and for good reason. Hope you enjoy as I did updating it.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And my saga continues in my already loaded blog on many stories of travel over the years. I am doing some and by now many posts updating and revising the links info and some old and new photos to bring them to life again. I hope you are enjoying the route as well as I. There is more pictures in the individual sight posts!

We had a nice lunch near home in Camors before leaving for Lannion, that is worth mentioning here, Au Coin du Feu, excellent for about 28 euros per person. This is on the road D768 near our house and well recommended.  In the forest of Camors, Breton longére house traditional with great owners serving and host all local products from the farm to your table. webpage:https://restaurantaucoindufeu-56.fr/

This time I bring you to Lannion.  We took off for  Lannion in the dept 22 of the Côtes d’Armor taking in the area , and staying overnight in a nice country hotel. We took off on the D768 taking the N24 direction Guingamp and later the D767 all the way to Lannion. Nice ride,no rain and cool, pleasant ride.

We stayed overnight at the Brit Hotel Aux Hortensias , Route de Perros Guirec , where very quickly we found a family room for 5 for 80 euros the night and took it. Very well located on the road D788 between Perros Guirec and Lannion, nice bedroom/bath, and breakfast for 7,20 per person buffet nicely stock. Very warm friendly service greeting by hand shake, and free parking.  Brit is a nice local chain I have used before and never disappointed. webpage:   https://hotel-lannion.brithotel.fr/

Nice night sleep and ready for the road again, coming home on the D767 to the N12 to Baud on the D768 back to the house for a nice weekend in my Brittany.

We went into town first for a quick look around, the wonderful parking at Gunzburg was great and then move along the river Léguer and the parking Aiguillon with the wonderful wooden houses was superb!

Some of the monument in detail in other posts were:

See the nice Church of  St John du Baly in city center place de l’église, started built in 1519 and finished in 1548. .  In the 15C it replaces the chapel in the castle dedicated to Notre Dame until 1625;then in 1760 we take away the Arrow tower. It has a wonderful Calvary done in 1867 outside back side. Many portraits and statues of different Saints, pulpits from the 17C, and stained glass from 1925 in art deco style done at Sacre Cœur in Paris. Very imposing building in a mount hilly area with looks at the place de l’Aiguillon and the river Léguer downway.

From the above Church you go down into a steep street and you can get to the Church of the Trinity in Brélénevez. There is a stair with 142 steps downward that we did not took. This is a Roman style Church done at the end of the 12C to early 13C with rénovations to the 14C. There is a mise au tombeau from the 18C , portraits and statues of Saint Gilles and Saint Loup with a retable in marbre white and black in the altar.

Nice Hôtel de Ville and Les Halles behind it or covered market very nice; as well as a carrousel in the place de l’Aiguillon with kiddier rides overlooking the river Léguer. Here across the river you see the magnificent building, this was the Monastery of Sainte Anne. First there was a hospice here in the 12C until replaced in the 17C by a convent housing the order of the Augustinians (misericordia of Jesus) . In the French revolution, they were expelled only to come back in 1805. In 2006, it was converted into the Library or mediathéque of the city. You can now rent the Chapel Sainte Anne done in 1902, and the Chapelle des Ursulines from the 17C is also attach  offering a cultural exhibition space today.

Next to the Church of St John du Baly, you will see a statue of Charles Le Goffic,  born and died here in Lannion, he was a poet, romancier, literary critic who dedicated his times and work celebrating Brittany/Bretagne. Member of the Académie Française in 1930.

For dinner, we went the family way and shop at the Intermarché Supermarket in Saint Quay Perros on our way in road D788, getting all the usual  Sodas, sandwiches, cheeses, yougurts, cookies, orange juice,etc for about 40 euros to feed a family of five. I guess we were in family savings mode today! webpage: https://www.intermarche.com/magasins/04142/saint-quay-perros-22700/infos-pratiques

The tourist office of the Granite Rose Coast for Lannion: https://www.bretagne-cotedegranitrose.com/mon-sejour/visites-et-decouvertes/les-visites-historiques-et-contees/visite-sensorielle-de-lannion-et-decouverte-de-ses-ateliers-dartistes/

There you go folks a brief first introduction to the wonderful old Lannion, and invite you to look for my detail posts of the monuments in this town in my blog. Lannion was a first experience here and we came back, nice.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!