I decided as crazy as I can be to eliminate all the my travels in the Morbihan posts from my blog. After coming up and looking at them , I realise they are simple small dots of places already visited and full post and pictures in the blog. So rather than have a double sites have deleted all 94 (XCIV) of them !!! I like to thank all those who have given likes or comments over the years in my blog on these posts. However , all is not lost.
Rather than loose all these memorable moments since 2012, I will condense all of them into one or several posts for my memories of always , the story of me and my blog. Hope you enjoy these memories as I. The word Morbihan means Mor for sea and bihan for small in the breton language so therefore small sea (coming from the famous gulf of Morbihan) the local costumes is that in the South areas around Vannes, Breton is spoken by the elders ,taught in schools ,and all signs on the roads, etc are bilingual. On the extreme north by Loudéac par example ,Gallo, a gallo roman language is also spoken, and the road signs are shown in both gallo and French.
This is 2015 !!! My day started by going to Carnac and to our surprise winter had come and most was close. We then past by Plouharnel and past by the gorgeous abbey of Kergonan, before continuing to our favorite Quiberon. Some of the things we saw in Carnac was the casino Barriére .The abbey of Sainte Anne de Kergonan at Plouharnel ;it all started in 1897 adjacent there is the abbey benedictine of Saint Michel , at the end of WWI it was house by US troops .We arrive at Quiberon and quickly for food lol! the biscutierie de Quiberon is one nice small delightful store we had our hot coffee and lotto ticket at the Café Hoche, taken over from brasserie de 3 masts, And we finally got our apéro drinks and sausages here at the new and friendly L’Esplanade Café , where the owner had previously tried a stint as chef in Marco Island , Florida USA. We went in on a curious ride on the plage de les Sables Blancs on the road to Quiberon , the town of Plouharnel, great for the camping cars lovers, And ,finally coming home we had dinner in our town of Pluvigner at Le Scampi, the award winning pizza maker of father and son 2014 first and second in the West of France competition.
First we went to our capital city of Vannes or Gwened in breton language. Here we got some decoration and velux windows for the house at the friendly local Castorama store, We went over to Lorient, ; here we went to the Place Alsace Lorraine for blue disk parking for free. We arrive by 14H so we headed to the restaurant for lunch right across the square of Alsace Lorraine, Brasserie Le Vauban .Here we went around to the local Damart store, my spouse favorite and an old French traditional store going back to the grandmother… 7 rue Vauban . Back to Auray, we had to ordered eyeglasses at our favorite of many years Optic 2000 Rue Barre, right in old town close to the Hotel de Ville, load up on our breads and sweets and of course the baguette at another favorite in many parts La Mie Câline. 12 Place de la République.
We got on the D22 towards Belz , we came up to a beautiful memorial to the fallen (erected in 1925) right next to the Church Saint Saturnin in city center. The church was name in honor of the bishop of Toulouse ,and is replacing a roman church from the 15C. It has a marvelous Mairie or city hall or city govt office dating from 1832, renovated in 1912, and rebuilt in 1984 , as well as again enlarged in 2005. We followed the coastal road to St Cado, we have been here before, so did not go to the end where the roman Chapel Saint Cado is. We passed the nice bridge of Pont Lorois into Plouhinec. We saw a wonderful Church St Pierre et St Paul. We stop at Bar Ty ma’lor at Corn er Houet, 1 rue du moustoir, Ploemel. We had to stop we know the owners and had our cold beers just to get going on a sort of hot day. Then, on the way back we stop at American’s Snacks , this is the same owners as the bakery next door at the foot of pont Lorois,by the before Passage-Neuf.
We are in 2016 !!! We set out on the country roads of the D16 direction Locminé but cut off at the D115 direction Colpo first. Then took the D157 to Locminé and there took the D1 to Bignan and onwards to the Domaine de Kerguéhennec on the D123 a wonderful castle; then link with the D778 to Billio, then ,Guéhenno and its wonderful calvary, coming down on the D126 to Plumelec where we had lunch. Continue on the D778 to Saint Jean Brévelay ! We have little Colpo a town practically rebuilt and finance by Napoléon III . Bignan Church St Pierre et St Paul ;and the previously visited and worth seeing the Domaine of Kerguéhennec . The Church of Notre Dame at Billio. As well as that of Church of Notre Dame at Colpo. The Church of Saint Maurice at Plumelec. As well as the Church of St Jean de Beverly in Saint Jean Brévelay. Back in Guéhenno we visited the Chapelle St Michel and the windmill or Moulin du Vent as well as the Church of St Pierre et St John Baptiste ,wonderful with its Calvary next to it one of the 7 wonders of Monumental Calvaries in Brittany! Chapelle Notre Dame du Plasker at Locminé as well as the Church Saint Sauveur et Saint Colomband , right on the old remains a new modern Church was built in same Locminé.
We visited the oyster breeding grounds of Belz, we went to Grand Champ, and Locmaria-Grand Champ; and around our town of Pluvigner on areas not yet visited! such as Bieuzy Lanvaux. We went further over to Séné city center and see the construction on the tunnel under the Gulf of Morbihan to replace the still bridge there, and finally passed by the small airport of Vannes in the village of Monterblanc. At Belz ,we went to get our local oysters and mussels right on the ria of pont Lorois, parc de Navihan. At Grand Champ, a town I passed everyday to work, and went to see the new renovated area behind the church and the nicely done Chapelle Notre Dame de Perpétuel Secours ( Our Lady of Perpetual Help). Built in 1898 right in city center. The village of Locmaria-Grand Champ, with modern city center around the Church Sainte Marie (Saint Mary) , and the great Halles or market in just across, done very modern. Back nearer me at Bieuzy Lanvaux ,there is chapel and now retirement home of Notre Dame de Fatima; nicely managed by the father and sisters of the congregation coopératives of Christ the King, under the teachings of St Ignatius of Loyola. We criss cross to Séné, very well known for its ethnological park but a quaint city center as well; and the opportunity to ride the bridge of Kérino over the Gulf of Morbihan before the tunnel comes in . Once in city center Séné, we went for some breads and sodas at the Boulangerie Tardif right across from the church in 22, place de l’église; very nice service and yummy for the go. The Church Saint Patern was just across. The church was built between 1878 and 1886. I got my itch to visit the small airport of Vannes!!! actually in the village of Monterblanc. The first flight was done here in 1920 and the airport officially open in 1926. You can have flight classes here and skydiving on the aeroclub. charter flights and general aviation.
At my nearby holy place of Sainte Anne d’Auray, See the pardon on the Sainte Anne; July 25-26. The area cider is famous as a traditional drink of Brittany since Celtic times. Some of the best are La Maison du Cidre at Le Hézo where we buy ours. From our area we buy oysters and mussels at La Perle de Quehan at Saint-Philibert; which is ,also, a restaurant next door , and Les parcs de Navihan ,at Belz, where we buy too. Get your biscuits of all shapes and tastes since 1958 at Biscuiterie de Kerlann, locations in Vannes, Auray and al. The Fêtes Historiques this year the emperor Napoléon III at Vannes July 13-14 free. The Interceltique Festival of Lorient, August 5-14 2016, this is the 46th edition of Breton Celtic traditions. Invited country this year is Australia.
We took a ride again to the simple village town of Theix near Vannes along the road N165. Upon entering the town the first thing we head out was the Chapelle Notre Dame la Blanche, built in 1239 and rebuilt in 1536 Next , we walked over the Church Sainte Cécile ; dating from the gothic period and gone over many rénovations in the 17C and 18C ; rebuilt between 1852-55 . We continue our journey on the road D7 along nice country into the picturesque village of Le Gorvello ,part of Sulniac, and a re visit to the Café owns by Americans from Chicago who is also a chambre d’hôte rental hotel.(now closed) Here, we first went to take a look at the Church St Jean Baptiste or St John the Baptist. It was time for lunch so we went to visit the Americans at Le Gorvello Café. Our journey took us to briefly visit the Château Le Plessis-Josso just up the road D7, and then D183. This is a well preserved castle and still partially inhabited by the descendants. It tells the history of Brittany in the middle ages and thereafter. Built in the 15C by the Josso family attach to the house of the Dukes of Brittany. The family Rosmadec comes into it in the 17C and enlarged it giving it the current look. Still a private castle.
As you know by reading my blog, Vannes is the capital of the department of the Morbihan dept 56 and the city I worked. You come to the wonderful Place des Lices where the great Saturday morning market is held today. the Cathedral of St Pierre by the rue de la Monnaie and on the south (harbor area) by the rue Saint-Vincent and Porte Saint-Vincent. It links to the Place du Poids Public and the ramparts of the old now gone castle the Hôtel de Francheville, and further new finds as it is now under renovation have found it was called before the Hôtel Mynier!16C with foundation even going further back, and on the right you have the old Halles or today covered market. On the further right you see the Hôtel de Marboeuf named after one of the protectors of Napoléon I that someone mentioned could have been his father! as his mother Laétizia followed the Count of Brittany in 1769 and the emperor could have been born out of this adulterous relationship in Sainte-Séve near St-Pol-de-Léon (from his name napo-leon) and not at Ajaccio as originally thought by many. The rue Thiers on which lies the Hôtel de Ville (city hall). Facing this street lies the rue du Mené and avenue Victor Hugo that takes you directly to the train station or Gare de Vannes. you see the department store Monoprix there, where we shop! Looking towards the right from the store you see the Hôtel du Commerce and Hôtel de l’Epée that now houses a big garage for 20 cars . Our favorite parking by car and entry by public bus to the city today is the Place de la Libération. It was an old slaughterhouse here early in the century call Champ de foire. There are the wonderful laundries or lavoirs built by 1817 to 1821. The wonderful harbor or le Port, the most visited area in Vannes and for good reason, simply awesome. You have the harbormaster, carrousel and tourist office there. Also, a cultural kiosk and a nice esplanade for family gathering . And another of my favorite shopping areas is the before mentioned Place du Poids Public. It was called before Place du Poids Ducal ,then, Place du Poids Royal, and place de la Revolution (French revolution time) ;It had lots of shops here and you pay the taxes to bring merchandise into the city here. The sea even reach here in times passed and you can see wooden houses from the 15C and 16C. The Saturday and Wednesday markets are held here, and they are superb!
In our routine, the day started by going to our friendly store for building materials Castorama and get some more stuff This store is at Vannes. Then , we stop by another emblematic store of ours Norauto for car maintenance shop but this time to check on their scooters as one of my son’s is looking to buy one. On the way back home we had lunch in one of our favorite home restaurant here at the town of Plescop , Les Trois Soleils, We came on the D779 so stop by Grand Champ to get some last minute groceries and gas/petrol. The reliable Carrefour Market that is even open on Sunday mornings is a good choice. We took a visit to Lanester, this is really a shopper’s town. It has a huge area where stores are clustered like ants. One shopping center , call, La Galerie,with big hypermarket Geant Casino. Which for a quick trip will do all in shopping However, before heading home we had our meal of the day. This was at the cafeteria A la Bonne Heure of Casino supermarkets.
Today got my rental car at the Auray (gare) train station ,an Avis agency and got me a FIAT 500 BL lol! When very young teen got my blazing hormones on the beach at Daytona Beach Florida driving a FIAT 131 that once in a while left me on the road for electrical cabling problems and needed to push hard to get the manual transmission going again. I went to have lunch at a resto outside of Vannes in the country , the town of Saint Nolff, very old church and nice traditional French restaurant. The L’Onde Verte , 12, rue des Lavandières. The church has been mentioned by me before, it is the Church Saint-Mayeul , current Church dates from the 15C , Saint Mayeul was an abbot of Cluny.
We came again to Lorient to do some shopping with my other half Frenchie who loves a particular store here call Damart, going back to grandma habits lol! so she finally got her shoes. Always nice to walk around the square Place Alsace-Lorraine even with construction going on around it and see the big branch of Galeries Lafayette as well as the modern Church of Notre Dame de la Victoire built in 1955 after WWII had destroyed the one there from 1810.
There you go folks, many years of wonderful time and happier moments to remember forever. Thanks to all for following my blog all these years since November 26 2010, and yes some of you go that far back. My pleasure to partake the wonderful world of travel with you all. Hope my posts brings ideas and memorable moments to you too. Thanks
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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