Paris1972-Versailles2003

So let me bring out to another peninsula near me. This is more urban but a nice harbor ,pool and walks for our dog and is in Vannes! Another spot where I have written bits and pieces in my other blog posts but never one dedicated to it. This is another idylic spot down tuck in a corner of the Gulf of Morbihan, in the Conleau peninsula of Vannes!

Conleau is one of the neighborhoods of the city of Vannes. It includes the Conleau peninsula. It is located south of Kercado and Cliscouët neighborhoods. It comprises a built-up area, consisting of detached houses and some collective dwellings, as well as an unbuilt area, the pointe des Émigrés (emigrants point)  and the Parc du Golfe (Gulf park), really at the entrance but not in the peninsula per se me think. The area was created during the 20C from two former hamlets named the Petit Conleau and the Grand Conleau, each composed of a Manor and farmhouses. One of these farms now houses the Maison de la Nature (nature house).

The Conleau peninsula  is an ideal spot for families,barbecue, and just soak in the tranquil life away from the city and crowds. The Conleau peninsula is a former island of the Gulf of Morbihan, connected to the Mainland by a dike road from 1878. Of modest dimensions (about 500 meters in  lenght for an average width of 100 meters.  It lies  at the confluence of the rivers  Vincin and Marle, the two main streams of Vannes. The peninsula is separated from the town of Arradon by the Vincin river and the town of Séné by the Marle river. In 1878 the résidents decided to give a different look at the area so they created a seawater pool surrounded by cabins of bath , chalets , a restaurant, and a grand hotel  (now Best Western Le Roof). As early as 1879, a dike-road connects the island to the mainland , promoting the development of the small seaside resort.

The colorful Créperie Guinguette , probably the best spot for eating in my opinion. Other good ones are the Corlazo Café ;Allée du Dr-François-Salomon facing the pool and the Café de Conleau as well as restaurant le Roof in the Best Western hotel (le cafe is good too) provides all the eating/drinking you need. There are public bathroom and change rooms available.

The Best Western Le Roof Hotel and café info on official webpage: https://www.le-roof.com/63-restaurant.html

Le Corlazo Café webpage: https://www.lecorlazo.fr/

And the Créperie Guinguette has closed (here for the memories) new owner has La Cabane which we have not try yet. I give you my fav site for beaches in France Plages TV on the Conleau sea water pool in English: https://en.plages.tv/detail/conleau-swimming-pool-vannes-56000

There is what it looks like a wonderful camping 4 stars in Conleau, we have not been living so close but do frequent camping and this one looks very good, for info Camping Le Conleau webpage: https://en.flowercampings.com/campsite-brittany/camping-le-conleau

There is a nice pines forest of Conleau. All along the shores of the Gulf of Morbihan and the banks of the Vincin river, this pinewood, composed of sea pines and secular oaks, gives this site a maritime atmosphere that offers shade and freshness to the many visitors. There is a children’s playground. And my Rex loves to walk around here a lot, my dog!

The Gulf of Morbihan tourist board on Conleau: https://www.golfedumorbihan.bzh/fiche/bassin-de-conleau/

Its a wonderful spot to spent your weekend and relax while enjoying the wonderful natural beauty of the place and always on the lookout into the Gulf of Morbihan. The Conleau peninsula is a great way for us to escape and even take our dog Rex! he loves it!

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

I am taking you to the extremity of my beautiful Morbihan towards Nantes and the rock of Bernard! This is boating heavens in a deep harbor with lots of history and great city center/downtown area. I have written on all that before but today will bring out a new text and older pictures on the wonderful Church Saint Michael or église Saint Michel of La Roche Bernard!

It was hidden with a few notes in previous posts but really deserves a post of its own in my blog. Hope you enjoy it as I. It was time to use the best of the morning for a short ride to a town in the Morbihan , I like even if smallish.  The trip is about 53 minutes from my house and La Roche Bernard is a nice boater’s heaven full of history as well.  Again , so many places to see in my lovely Bretagne ,sometimes I find myself surprise of how far back was my last visit to a place. La Roche Bernard , you reach it by the N165, and once on the D765 you entered by the bridge or Pont de La Roche Bernard over the Vilaine river. It is located about 36 km from Saint-Nazaire, 41 km from Vannes and 70 km from Nantes. Once in town follow signs for centre ville or city center into my favorite parking La Vôute into the harbor where you see the big rock from which the town gets its name the rock of Bernard! The Altantic ocean is about 20 km from town!

One I always stop by is the Church Saint Michael or St Michel.  In 1878, almost in ruins, the old Church is replaced by a new one with more space. The Church is of course in the square or Place Saint Michel.  The Church Saint-Michel was built in 1631 that the son of the famous Duke of Guise decided to build a Catholic church in La Roche-Bernard, which was essentially Protestant at the time. Hesitant between a church and a chapel, the building was reworked many times and, without structure, became fragile. Nothing remains of this 11C church. The surrounding cemetery was transferred in 1832.

It was therefore decided in 1874 to build a new one. Wanting to anticipate the future and not wanting to see it as too small , the inhabitants chose the most consistent. The old church was destroyed in the process. Work began in 1876 by choosing more luxurious materials than expected because the city was going to cease to depend on the diocese of Nivillac.  The church was consecrated on Sunday October 5, 1879. The bell tower was completed in 1882 and it was in 1883 that the three bells offered by wealthy people from La Rochelle were blessed on April 22. Their first tolls were felt by the population as an ode to independence and freedom.

The Church St Michel is build in the shape of a Latin cross, is remarkable only for its size and the sense of peace it exudes. However, its decorations are really worth the detour, especially the stained glass windows and the many statues.  But the most extraordinary is the great Christ on the cross in the center of the nave. Indeed, this one was formerly in the old church when it was looted in 1791, during the French revolution. It was dragged in the street, it was thrown in the Vilaine river , and was found a few kms further and hidden a few years by a peasant who returned it.

Finally, the last unexpected treasure is hidden in the bell tower, access to which is regulated by a very strict prefectural decree. This is a large colony of large murines, a protected species of bats!

The city of La Roche Bernard on the Church St Michel: https://www.laroche-bernard.com/annuaire/leglise-saint-michel/