My town ,my loving Pluvigner. Most write about far away lands we visit but seldom about the one we live in, I have lived in 5 countries and citizen of 4, having visited 81 so far and all have an impact on my life, Needless, to say the meaning of Pluvigner is big on my family. I had written several post on our lives here but realise these were repeated on individual posts; therefore, crazy me decided to erase them all. Not to lose the memories and sights of my loving Pluvigner ,will do several posts updating these older posts. This one is my Pluvigner ,part III. Of course, these posts will be on my black and white series,no pictures ,Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Well it goes without saying, my best living as yet and enjoying it fully. This is history and love it, quaint streets building of historical value right in the cross roads of the Morbihan equidistance almost from good size cities like Lorient and Vannes and Pontivy; along major roads and close by TGV available train stations, local and departamental bus lines and all the amenities of a small town with all the trimmings. The city center is at 31 km from Lorient and 27 km from Vannes. So , this is Pluvigner in 2018, and what is it? Well I have written on many of its sites before, but this is about history after I am an amateur of history . I have membership in the local heritage association that tries to preserve and enhance history and architecture.
In 1887, Pluvigner was enriched with a young girls orphanage founded in Bieuzy (now part of Pluvigner). A Chapel was built dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Pins in 1891.The Church of Saint-Guigner (16C) and the .Our Lady of Nettles, (Notre Dame des Oties) in the village, touches the parish church and communicates with it through the sacristy. It has the form of a Latin cross; The transepts are shallow and seem older than the rest of the monument. The choir is square; On each side, two arched arcades, now clogged, imply the primitive existence of two collateral. The square of the transept is separated from the nave by three arches, one large and two small, in warhead, worn on polygonal pillars. The windows are ogival, and the fire and trilobed mullions. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Nettles (b 1426 ) it is now ruins of arches left of it next the town’ s Church of Saint Guigner.
Other Chapels in the city are: The Chapelle Saint-Adrien (15C) Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Fatima-aux-Granges (1895), Chapelle Saint-Colomban or Saint-Colombier (1453) ,Chapelle Saint-Mériadec (11C), Chapelle Saint-Guy or Guyon (circa 1600) , Chapelle Sainte-Brigitte (16-17C),Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Miséricorde or Mercy (17C). Chapel of the Trinity (end of the 15C), Chapelle de Saint-Bihui (1593) The Chapel of Saint-Goal (17C),Chapel of Saint-Fiacre, in ruins in 1888, and rebuilt in the 19C. The ancient Chapel of St. Guénaël, rebuilt at the end of the 19C in an isolated place and mentioned in 1930, nearest to me. Also, the Fontaine Saint-Guigner (b 1526). The set includes a three-basin wash house ,the Fontaine Notre-Dame-de-la-Misericorde or Mercy.
And the Château de Rimaison (before 18C), rebuilt with stones from an older castle. The Chateau of Keronic (b 1426). Siege of an ancient lordship called Queronic or Keronic ; Château de Kerlois (b 15C), located on the Sainte-Anne road and transformed in the 17C. The old castle of Tancarville (located in the former spawning of Trelecan). The lordship belonged to the family of Lanvaux. The private chapel which was enlarged in the 15C, then restored in 1640, is dedicated to Saint-Fiacre and seems dated from the 12C. You can see a 15C altarpiece; The Manoir du Guern (circa 18C), which served as a presbytery. It is made up of a large body of dwelling. There is a small oratory with an 18C wooden altar surmounted by the statues of Saint Yves and Saint Vincent Ferrier; The steles of Pluvigner and Cosquéric (Iron Age). A dozen stones have been listed on the territory of the town of Pluvigner.
As our family is so spread out in four different countries, and two continents, and in France far away east and north of Paris we are the lone westerners lol! As my time for travel or desire has diminish a bit;;;just a bit; we are staying closer to home too. One of the things we have started to ease our week and take advantage of the Summer/Spring months is the barbecue. We are thinking in Fall/Winter to do so in the garage ,which is big. We wanted a manuable barbecue for quick meals the old fashion way, and easily transportable. We decided for a Weber and purchase it at our friendly home builders store Castorama in Vannes. We used once to try it and it took some time to get it lit but we manage ok. This time ,it was easier and quicker. We enjoy it in our open terrace in front of our house. We have a large covered veranda , so the enjoyment of barbecue when weather permitting. My sons took to the task and we all chip in as well as our dog Rex. He is always hungry anyway, our Borador (border collier/labrador), and already almost 10 months old. We got ourselves some nice German beers at our friendly V&B of Auray to go along with the food. And the day went really fast and we all had fun at home. Me watching the horse racing from Paris Longchamp (Bois de Boulogne) and they watching well, MasterChef season 9 reruns from the USA led by Gordon Ramsay.
Coming to France (and already French) to live permanently in Aug 2003 took us luckily to lived in some awesome town such as Versailles! But, also some much smaller off the beaten path towns like Pluvigner, where surprise to us we have been already 6 years in the house we are in now. Here we get an occassional English or German passing by and we have two English families in town, one still works married to a French lady (Leeds) and the other couple are both English and retired (Sheffield).
The latest venture to eat out in town was to one my sons and dear late wife had already been and alwas talk about the gentle owners and very friendly who gives away a sweet call lokum (turkish delights), I finally try it. The Star Kebab (previous owner sold it to his cousin and still open) in pl St Michel walking distance from our house was nice, the service of the couple was as told, the locum was given, and the food very nicely best price and good. Anyway, here was lamb meat with vegetables including tomatoes, and french fries , the bread was Turkish origin and the drink was a Belgian blonde Leffe beer, also Heineken, and Desperados! all for 9.50€ per person nice for Dad!
On our 14 july celebration for our National Day (old Bastille day) we had Celtic dances, and a badag band singing celtic songs, and of course plenty of galettes, crêpes, and Breton beers! Next May 31st, June 1st we have a Fez Noz here at the Salle Marie-Josèphe Le Borgne , Rue Maréchal Leclerc. The local groups Les Fréres Mahévas, Rozenn Talec/Yannig Noguet, Triorezed, and War-Sav will perfom.Ok for the bakery Boulangerie YD as above with new owners Yann and Deborah. Yann bake bread until mid-afternoon so guarantee freshness. Some novelties appeared new with sourdough bread and a relaxing chestnut bread. Soon it will be the apple slipper stuffed with salted butter caramel pastry. The specialty of Deborah,the pastry section is all homemade and only works with local products. This is the case of Plougastel’s eggs or strawberries. Ok , usually my boys go to get the breads but today I did, the baguettes but here we call them Tradition, or Breizh or Moulé depending on what you want in the wheat!! ,normally what you usually call the regular baguette here is the Moulé baguette. We prefer the breizh style which is Brittany in the Breton language. If traveling with domestic animals I highly recommend our clinic where we take care of Rex vaccines etc. The Clinique Vétérinaire du Chêne at route de Brandivy off the road D768 (route d’Auray) across from Lidl supermarket. And for us we do the Pharmacie de la Place at Pl du Marché (now closed and move closer to our house at Rue Saint-Mathurin ) city center and walking distance from us as most. They have a friendly staff and always very pointing on details of the medications especially for my Dad which is on diabetes treatment under control.
We go to other restos in towns such Scampi pizzeria, and Baccatella creperie and also the bakeries in old city center but these are once in a while when the above are more contants. The doctor, eye store, dentist all are in city center walking distance too. The closest big supermarket is a Super U which is at 1,1 km from home or about 0.7 mi which here is walking distance! but we seldom go to it unless to gas up the car. The big hypermarkets at Auray and Vannes wins over. The eye doctor is in Auray 14 km away or about 11 miles (but now open a branch in town ! ). The other stores are in Vannes like FNAC or Micromania or Carrefour.
We set out to vote by 10h walking as we live not far from city center and the voting hall. This is always at the Salle Marie-J. Le Borgne right after the cemetery. May 26 Sunday , today is an important day that might shape the future of Europe as France is heavily counting on staying close rank and banner country for the European Union. Whether against or for it, it is the one thing that have kept Europe at peace. As I have said many times ,Hemingway felled short when he describe Paris as a moveable feast, he should had travel more into the country side of France! As France is a moveable feast! We check the new electric meter counter installed recently and my consomption is now less by 36 euros per month!! great!!! I always like to look at our eyeglasses store Optic 2000 which occupies a very nice building in city center/downtown. And of course our voting place. Not to ever forget the wonderful Church of Saint Guigner belltower. Saint Guigner is the one who came here from the islands (UK) back in the 400’s and the town carries his name as Plu is breton for parish, and vigner is a contraction of Guigner so the parish of Saint Guigner became, Pluvigner or in Breton Pleuwigner !
Life goes on, we do not even want to mention but I must that today is Mother’s Day in France as well. Unfortunately we do not have one now, they are at sea ,and I believe their spirit is guarding us and helping us as we go along in life. Happy Mother’s Day for those celebrating.
There you go folks, my town of Pluvigner, Another historical memorable town for us , already 9 years in the house and now more empty than ever missing our two women, Life goes on and the town has been good, hard to tell the future but I believe this will be my last town, from here to the sea at Honfleur Normandie as our family has. Hope you enjoy this kind of post, and do get to know me more and hopefully I will you too. Do read my many posts on Pluvigner in my blog !
And remember, happy travels, good health , and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
Leave a Reply