Paris1972-Versailles2003

And my updates continue, great initiative I took in these different days of ours. I have written before but really need to bring to date the text and links. The photos are from 2017.

Let me tell you a bit about Bénodet, the Riviera Bretonne indeed. As the coasts around here all wonderful.

The main reason of me coming Sunday was to visit this beach town. We made the best of the day and visited other towns.  However, Bénodet was it. It is part of the new  Riviera Bretonne and a five stars beach area. More on the Riviera Bretonne:

The town is located in the pays Fouesnantais,and extends from the cove of Penfoul (extension of the Odet river) to the small harbor of Sainte-Marine (Combrit) located across in the pays Bigouden, until the cove of petit Moulin and the cove of Groasguen that opens to the white sea ( a lagoon that creates a small interior sea between the towns of Fouesnant and Bénodet).

Bénodet is easily reach from my house; a little more than an hour along the N165 to exit just by Quimper that tells you Bénodet, here take the road D44 and just follow the signs!

Entering town you can stop to the Biscuiterie de Bénodet for some goodies from the area and Brittany in general. This is on the D44 road coming into town, or out. Webpage: https://www.biscuiteriedebenodet.com/

This is really a beach, sea town with connections to the gorgeous Glénan islands on the Vedette de l’Odet , as well as the river. This trips are taken from the harbor area, and there is a wonderful marina too.

You have several choices of beaches but I will tell you two. Coq plage has a nice Coq lighthouse and a bigger Pyramide lighthouse inland; with beautiful mansions and a nice beach for the entire family. Then, you come to Trez plage ,the main circular one with all the actions,and amenities even changing stalls and many with direct access to the mansions behind them. city of Bénodet on the lighthouses: https://www.benodet.fr/notre-destination/lieux-a-decouvrir/patrimoine-histoire-musee-du-bord-de-mer/les-phares/

I took a picture of a great mansion, and behold it is a Moorish minaret and indeed a wonderful nice restaurant L’Alhambra,  that should be hit next time by yours truly. City of Bénodet on the Moorish minaret:  https://www.benodet.fr/notre-destination/lieux-a-decouvrir/patrimoine-histoire-musee-du-bord-de-mer/le-minaret/

Of course ,there is a nice seaside museum and casino Barriére that I should be back too; this was just a sample and the place looks marvelous. There is ,also, a Escale Spa! and a Carousel for kids on a hill overlooking the harbor and beaches.

It is very much a Riviera by a river and many upscale amenities with a clean , chic , quaint outlook; we drove by the residential areas and all looks wonderful.  See the wonderful Chapelle de Perguet as this was the name of the town until 1878! and the Church!

See the beach bordering nice Corniche de la Mer and Corniche de l’Estuaire along the set up concert structure for the summer; and the great pasarelle with more changing rooms and the Children playground on the beach.

You will see the Petit  Train passing along the beach area, quant always nice for a ride with the family , and the wonderful beach sights. City of Bénodet info webpage: https://www.benodet.fr/equipement-loisir/celtictrain-benodet/

The French riviera on Bénodet: https://www.rivierabretonne.com/la-riviera-bretonne/les-incontournables/10-sites-incontournables-sur-la-riviera-bretonne/

The tourist office of Bénodet: https://www.benodet-tourism.co.uk/

The city of Bénodet on things to see/do: https://www.benodet.fr/notre-destination/lieux-a-decouvrir/

In all, it was a good trip, really enjoyed the town, and sure will be back for more in detail look at Bénodet. In Summer is tops from any point of view me think, and I know about beaches having been born in one and al….

Hope you enjoy the ride, and remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And here I go with a nice story of old bringing to live again in my blog. This is going deep in Finistére dept 29 of my lovely Bretagne. Always looking for new spots in France we came to Landerneau!

So driving around with a visiting American friend retired in Mexico, we decided to take her to Landerneau a very old town ,but typical of our region. Always raining so typical but we told her rain is part of Brittany and it does not stop us from going out and visiting. The temps was mild cool ,cloudy raining all day all over the route on the N165 and D770 as well as on site.

It goes to show once again the diversity of places here , so many things to see , we take time to come back to old ones.  We arrived by the Pont de Rohan (b. 1510) parking along the quai de Léon. Alongside the River Elorn .Metered parking but as Sunday it was free. We then set out on foot.

We went to see the Church Saint Thomas and the next door Ossuary of Saint Cadou. (See posts)

The Church of Saint Thomas was in honor of Thomas Becket , bishop of Canterbury, died as martyr in 1170. The lords of Léon founders of the abbey of Daoulas and owners of Landerneau had a Church built in honor of St Thomas that became the priory of St Thomas since the middle of the 13C. The original Church was rebuilt in the end of the 16C and the tower founded the day of the Trinity in 1607. The Church was again renovated in 1849. The 3 level bell tower was also renovated in 1849. The front façade with the porch is decorated with statues in stone of St Francis de Assisi, St Eloi, and a Virgin in calvary on top of the entrance. Inside you see a nice altar of 1711,and a statue in wood of the Virgin lying down from the 15C.

The ossuaire de Saint Cadou, just facing the above Church is the old ossuary of Saint Thomas dedicated to Saint Cadou with a date of 1635.  This is a rectangular building with four windows and two chapters in the door. the funerary chapel was taken in 1794 by the French revolution to be a factory of laces and leather shoes for the soldiers. Later, it served for housing of the sacristan priest and later as of today a museum of stone statues from the area.

Right around this area you will see the fountain in the Place des 4 Pompes  that used to gather the water of the prairies of Saint Thomas ,after the realignment of the street it was redone in a modern style in 1774. It has four spouts to spring water from and it is probably why it is call 4 pompes.  You than come to the Galerie de Rohan. Contemporary arts at its best in 180 square meters of space.

We had a break and went for lunch, so been raining and not much to walk about on a Sunday, we entered the Ar Vamm Fave créperie right on the rue du Pont next to the river Elorn. This was a pleasant surprise as the food was delicious and the ambiance very Breton with nice decorations to boot. The group had several things from complete galette ,to Andouille the Breton sausage type of many unnamed things inside, the ti bragou with sausages of Moléne, together with crêpes flambée, and coffees, all wash down with cider Kerne demi sec; coming to 12.90€ per person. Very good. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creperie-Ar-Vamm-Fave/494024987285751

Once fed, we continue a bit more into the Church Saint Houardon starting from the 16C at rue Alain Daniel not far from the river Elorn. After the French revolution, the Church was in bad state and very small for the new parrishgoers. The Church was rebuilt in 1858-1860 in neo gothic style. The bell tower is of 63 meters dating from 1589 and done in 1860. The sculpture porch is from 1604 high of 22 meters and an older one on top dating from the 16C. The roof was renovated in 1957; it has many gargouilles mostly dating from 1860 representing animals. See post

The loca tourist office of Landerneau-Daoulas on the town heritage: https://www.tourisme-landerneau-daoulas.fr/sortir-bouger/activites-culturelles-et-patrimoine/visites-guidees/landerneau-ville-historique-7370

The city of Landerneau on its history and heritage: https://www.landerneau.bzh/histoire-de-landerneau/

After a bit of stretch walking , we took the car back home same direction. We reach home in time for dinner and some TV!! Another nice visit in my wonderful Bretagne/Brittany/Breizh!

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

And here I am in the best part of the year always and bringing back memories of whole family visits to the wonderful Rochefort en Terre in my beautiful Morbihan of my lovely Bretagne in my belle France. Christmas is coming and would like to update for all this old post of Christmas 2016 at Rochefort en Terre!!!

Another year gone by and another visit to the wonderful medieval quant town of Rochefort-en-Terre in my Morbihan Breton. We were there this morning ahead of the night festivities as it is packed and now in addition this year name, the Favorite town of the French in a TV contest here in France.  Le Village préférés des français or the favorite town of the French on survey by TV station France 2 announce by Stéphane Bern.

The town at night is a time going back full of lights all over city center and chalets as well as stores and restos staying late to celebrate. Huge numbers of people comes here every year and we have been for the last several. This time we chose to come earlier quieter, and have time to prepare the meal for Christmas Eve tonite.

We go there by car along the N165 to the N166 to the N774 or going out we took first the N777 into the N775 and N166 N165;   direct into Rochefort en Terre both ways. We parked by the primary school Sylvain Pradeau 2,20€ for 24 hours of parking. And from here we walk all over town.

We went into the Castle first, this is known as the American Artists place as Alfred Klots, American painter born in St Germain-en-Laye of a family from Baltimore MD USA purchased it in 1907 ,and created an artists colony that is now the museum NAIA . Inside the Castle property you will also see a Chapel with a nice nativity scene set ,now part of the city, it hosts several arts events and artists trainings. The original castle is from the 13C and with a base of stables from the 17C it has rooms done in the 20C .The museum Naîa is right at the entrance to the castle. Both have separate posts in my blog.

You get back on the side street next to the main road, and see the beautiful Church Notre Dame de la Tronchaye  , (see post) built between the 12C and 16C.  The facades are done in flamboyant gothic from 1553,and you can see two gates not far from its square tower still preserved these are the Porte Cadre and the Porte de l’Etang.

You have beautiful nativity sets , two in city center one by the Mary candles store or Bougie Marie, and another on the square Place de Puits afterward.  I got a glimpse at place de Puits of the many medieval buildings around including our favorite resto Café Breton (see post). Continuing to the end of town we arrived at the rue Saint Michel and later the Place Saint Michel with plenty of chalets and wooden houses.

You will be able to see the remnants of a laundry or Lavoir by the Porte de l’Etang. You can see at the other end of the city center, walking is great, the Chapelle Saint Michel , is right in the woods but visible from the parking.  It is in the old field of the Fairs and the current Place Saint Michel , dated from the 17C and renovated in the early 20C. Here used to be located the priory of the Grail of Notre Dame de Montjoie. After several years the Chapel is not visited but you can see inside thru the holes in the window.

The tourist office of Rochefort en Terre: https://www.rochefortenterre-tourisme.bzh/ln/en/

We then headed back home for the Christmas Eve preparations not before stopping in Vannes for an apéro ::) a drink before the meals from aperitif or aperture to open up the appetite in you. Cheers and Merry Christmas!

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