Curiosities of Guingamp !!!

Posted in Bretagne, France

And I like to tell you again about a town that needs to be visited more , me think. The beaten path nice town call Guingamp in the Côtes d’Armor dept 22 of my lovely Bretagne! I have written before much on its history, this time had a bit more time in my road warrior trips ,and would like to expand on the curiosities of Guingamp !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

Briefly, Guingamp is located 110 km from Brest and 130 km from Rennes. Saint-Brieuc, the prefecture, is 32 km away. It is about 109 km from my house !  Let me show you some of the other things to see and enjoy while in Guingamp.

The fontaine de la Plomée at the crossroads of rue Notre Dame and rue Henry Kerfant . The term Plomée comes from the Breton word plomenn meaning “pump, fountain ” and locally “source “. The fountain was built in the 15C. In 1588, it was transferred to the top of the square and became ornamental. It was renovated in 1743 . Composed of three basins, the first in granite, the other two in lead, it is reminiscent of the Celtic triple fountains. The statue which dominates it represents the cult of the virgin mother, Dana or Ana among the Celts, the Virgin Mary in the Christian religion. Recently renovated, it overlooks the town’s main square, Place du Centre.

Guingamp fontaine de la Plomée rue henry kerfant sep22

The wooden houses of the Guingamp region were erected during the 15-16C over a hundred years by a workshop specializing in this type of construction. These generally covered an area of ​​around 20 km. If in the Middle Ages all the houses surrounding the Place de la Cohue (currently Place du Centre) were in wood there are only a dozen of them in Guingamp, the oldest dating from the 1450s, the older of the period 1570-1580. I like to point out some all around the basilica and fountain, at no, 12, Place du Centre, the pilasters were replaced by cast iron columns at no, 31, place du Centre, house known as the Merrien Chérot prosecutor which belonged to a family of wealthy bourgeois. The house is from the end of the 15C. No, 33, place du Centre, note the ogival windows and the Saint-André ,crosses. At no, 35, Place du Centre, this is the second oldest house in Brittany. It was dated 1416 by dentochronology, At no, 39, Place du Centre, this was the oldest wooden house in Guingamp before being demoted after the discovery of the architecture of the previous house, camouflaged under a thick plaster, Lastly , at no, 48, Place du Centre ,the dimension and the care given to its construction makes it a real mansion testifying to the owner’s financial means.

The Jardin Public Commandant Billot (died in front WWI 1915) located at 5 place du Champ au Roy was inaugurated in 1913. The garden presents to the public large varieties of cultivated plants which offer a botanical richness in the heart of the city. The garden is surrounded by statues, dating from the 19C, and representing naked women. The magnificent octagonal Bandstand located near the main entrance built in 1913 is located in the middle of this landscaped park of 19,575 m2 with direct access to the city center of Guingamp. This kiosk is probably the only one remaining in the Côtes-d’Armor department. On a granite base, cast iron columns support an octagonal roof surmounted by a Lyre.

Guingamp jardin public comm billot passing sep22

The old prison was built between 1836 and 1841 according to the model “Pennsylvanian , and is located at 4, rue Auguste Pavia. It was disused in 1951 and property of the city since 1992. The prison worked as joint penitentiary establishment between 1841 and 1931, when it officially closed. However, the prison underwent a new activity between 1941 and 1952, and 1 400 persons were again imprisoned for common law offences. Behind high surrounding walls, hides the old penitentiary center.  A remarkable construction, unique in Europe, the building was bought by the city in 1992. The Renovation works to accommodate in particular the Gwin Zegal Art Center dedicated to photography. It is today used as a cultural center,

The Hôtel de Ville or City/town hall of Guingamp , It ,also, houses a magnificent exhibition room (Espace François-Mitterrand) housed in the former chapel of the convent. Théâtre Champ au Roy at 1 place du Champ au Roy is located just behind the back of the Hôtel de Ville.

Guingamp city hall and theater champ au roi behind sep22

The City of Guingamp on its heritage :https://www.villeguingamp.bzh/index.php/culture-et-patrimoine/le-patrimoine-guingampais

The Friends of Guingamp on its heritage: https://patrimoine-guingamp.net/la-ville/

The Guingamp Paimpol tourist office on Guingamp heritage: https://www.guingamp-paimpol.com/en/welcome-to-guingamp-baie-de-paimpol/relaxing-on-land/heritage-sites

The Côtes d’Armor dept 22 Tourist board on see do in Guingamp : https://www.cotesdarmor.com/a-voir-a-faire/patrimoine/villes-et-villages-classes/guingamp/a-voir-a-faire/

There you go folks, another wonder of our beautiful Bretagne in dept 22  Côtes d’Armor up north. Guingamp is nice and glad to be back as promise. Hope you have enjoy the curiosities of Guingamp !!! as I.

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

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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