Paris1972-Versailles2003

I have come and enjoy this town several times with many posts ,however, nothing on the beaches !! I found me new older pictures and would like to tell you more about them, This is Saint Gildas de Rhuys in my beautiful Morbihan (Breton language for small sea as French would be petite mer), and my lovely Bretagne in my belle France. It never cease to amazed me the wonders of my Morbihan. Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys is on the Presqu’ïle de Rhuys peninsula. Its coasts open onto a part of the Atlantic Ocean called Mor Braz (sea from the Gulf of Morbihan to the Atlantic Ocean), but also on the Gulf of Morbihan. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The best beach at St Gildas for the wild look at it and nice dunes is  plage du Goh Vélin beach , this a vast beachfront wild with nice rocks and the impressive Pointe du Grand Mont rocky overlook nice above it. For the rocky mount Grand Mont is a medium effort walkers route all bordering the beaches and also a bit inland into the marshes.

The Plage du Goh Vélin is a fine sandy beach of 1, 3 km. Behind the dunes, you will find the magnificent beach with a direct view of the bay of Quiberon and its islands. Practical: 3 car parks are equipped to accommodate vehicles: – Abraham Bay road car park (picnic tables, children’s play area, Le Vert d’O bar-restaurant) – Car park at the bottom of the Sables (access to lifeguard station, seahorse chair) – Parking route du Rohu (access to sailing school). In summer, public toilets are installed on the 3 accesses. Swimming supervised in July-August. Pets not allowed.

My fav beach site plages tv on the Goh Vélin beach : https://www.plages.tv/detail/plage-de-goh-velin-saint-gildas-de-rhuys-56730

Another better beach we like around this area is the Kerver beach or plage de Kerver.  This beach goes into the city limits of Arzon and Port du Crousty as well. It is very expansive white sand beach with plenty of water sports available and snacks beach hut across it. Simply a great family beach and safe waters too; highly recommended.

The plage de Kerver beach is the largest beach in Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys and extends to the town of Arzon – Port du Crouesty – Port Navalo. Practical: On Saint-Gildas, there are 3 main accesses: – Bois du Kerver – Municipal campsite of Kerver (entrance side) – Municipal campsite of Kerver (side of the motorhome parking area). Pets not allowed

My fav beach site plages tv on the Kerver beach :https://www.plages.tv/detail/plage-de-kerver-saint-gildas-de-rhuys-56730

The Port Aux Moines , formerly a natural shelter in a rock fault used by the monks of the abbey,  Note in winter the port is empty of boats all in protected garages.  

The Port aux Moines still exists within the current port. It was inaugurated on August 15, 1965. Its capacity is 117 boats. Pitches are rented by the month or year. The majority of its users are recreational anglers. Waiting times vary depending on the places freed up, the length and the type of boat. The number of sailboats tends to decrease each year in favor of motor boats. The office is open every day from April 15 to October 15, except Thursdays. The opening hours depend on the tides.

The dolmen of Port-aux-Moines located by Rue Pierre Messmer, is a megalith located at the Pointe de Men-Maria, just west of the Port-aux-Moines. The dolmen is made up of half a dozen orthostats covered by a single capstone. This slab is approximately 3.5 meters long, 1.7 meters wide and 80 cm thick. Nearby, lie several stones that could be elements, some of which were used in the construction of the enclosure. Nothing remains of the original corridor of this dolmen.   By the Pointe de Men-Maria  you have a  rocky projection making it possible to protect the boats from the swell Between these two ports (Men Maria and Aux Moines); there  is a cross, in memory of the missing sailors.

The city of Saint Gildas de Rhuys on its beaches: https://www.saint-gildas-de-rhuys.fr/categorie/decouvrir/les-plages/

The city of Saint Gildas de Rhuys on the Port aux Moines: https://www.saint-gildas-de-rhuys.fr/le-port-aux-moines/

The Gulf Morbihan tourist office on Saint Gildas de Rhuys : https://www.golfedumorbihan.bzh/explorer-vannes/decouvrir-vannes/golfe-morbihan/presquile-rhuys/saint-gildas/

This is a great natural area along the coast with great big cliffs overlooking the ocean and nice places to unwind with the whole family. Beautiful natural beaches indeed as the two above, You will have a great time on the Saint Gildas de Rhuys beaches, Hope you enjoy the post as I

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

I am again back to tell you more of the Saint Gildas de Rhuys Abbey in the Presqu’ïle de Rhuys peninsula in my beautiful Morbihan and my lovely Bretagne and in my belle France. A wholesome package of beauty and unbelievable history and sights. The best way to get here is by car along the N165 expressway Brest -Nantes and get off from Vannes at exit Sarzeau follow it on the D780 road until the roundabout for direction Saint Gildas de Rhuys on the D198. Each town has its marvels, gems of our history and architecturally stunning. This is the case of the marvelous Abbey Church of Saint Gildas . I found me some pictures in my vault that should be in my blog, therefore, time to tell you more of it. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The present Saint Gildas de Rhuys Abbey  still preserves beautiful elements of the Romanesque Abbey  such as the Choir, north transept, 32 capitals with geometric decorations and several tombs. The monumental altarpiece of the south cross brace dates from the first third of the 17C. By their sobriety, the nave and the crossroads of neo-classical transept harmonize well with the surviving Romanesque parts.  

This former Benedictine abbey, built on the Rhuys peninsula, faces the Atlantic Ocean. Today integrated into the village, the monastery was near a large forest that covered the entire peninsula in the Middle Ages. Ancient writings attribute the founding of the first monastery to the 6C. The abbey would then have been founded by Saint Gildas, a monk from Scotland, in 536. The beginnings of the monastery are actually known to us through historical facts dating back to the Norman invasions of the 10C.

The Saint Gildas Abbey was sold as national property in 1796 during the French revolution, and in 1804 the town obtained the right to buy back the church which had then become parish. In 1825 the monastery was bought by Mrs. Molé de Champlâtreux who installed the nuns of the Congregation of Charity of Saint-Louis there, The Church Abbey of Saint-Gildas de Rhuys, has a Latin cross plan consisting of a nave of four bays bordered by narrow side aisles preceded by a facade with a bell tower decorated with classical pilasters and pediment. All this part preceding the crossing of the transept is modern since completely rebuilt at the end of the 17C after the fall of the crossing tower in 1668.

The treasury of the Saint Gildas Abbey, considered one of the most remarkable in Brittany, consists of works from the 14C to the 18C. During the French revolution it would have been hidden in the attics of the surrounding houses. Composed essentially of two hunts and four morphological reliquaries, as well as various objects of worship: chalices, quarter panel, reliquary cross, etc The treasure of the Abbey, saved during the French revolution by the Rector Le Duin, whose tomb is still in the cemetery of Saint Gildas.

Discover, under the Roman vaults, the more than a thousand-year-old   and mysterious history of one of the most prestigious abbeys in Brittany and its famous characters: Saint Gildas, Saint Félix, Saint Goustan, Abélard, the Dukes of Brittany. The precious goldsmith’s treasure still contains relics. To discover it is to embark on an extraordinary journey through time. Awesome ,recommended to see them, Some must sees me think are : .

Saint Gildas, founder of the abbey of Rhuys, died in 565 and was buried behind the main altar of the church piping on the sides. A beautiful white stone statue is standing near the tomb; it represents Saint Gildas with his bare head, his eyes raised to heaven, and holding a pastoral staff in his hand,

Saint Félix, restorer of the abbey of Rhuys, died on February 12, 1038, and was buried in the north transept of his church, under a curved arcade, on the side of the altar. His tombstone, in granite, cut in the shape of a shrine, offers the design of a pattée cross, in relief, with some ribs, and an inscription in Roman capitals.

Saint Goustan, simple lay brother of the house and companion of Saint Felix, died on November 27 around the year 1040 on a trip to Beauvoir in Poitou. His body was brought back to Rhuys and buried in the north transept, opposite his master. stone coffin, which still contains some of his relics. Its dimensions are indicated there; as a particularity it should be noted the dug cubicle fear to receive the head. As it was broken, it was replaced in 1896 by another lid from the 11C, which remained unused. It features a cross pattée, with ribs and two spoked circles.

Saint Gingurien, another lay brother of the monastery, died on September 28, we do not know in what year, but certainly before Saint Felix. He was buried in the apse chapel, where a relatively modern stone bears some simple words in Latin,

Saint Bieuzy, the disciple of the founder, was buried in the vicinity; but the primitive church having been ruined by the Normans in 919, his tomb was not found by the monks of Saint Felix, and even today the precise place of his burial is absolutely unknown.

Saint Ehoarn was living alone in a cell near the abbey church, when one night he was attacked by brigands and killed with an axe. It is probable that he was buried in the church, but today there is no trace of his tomb.

Nearby, under the second arcade, is the sepulchral stone of the monk Rioc; it has the same dimensions as the previous one, bears a cross pattée in relief, with a few straight lines, and presents an inscription, This monk was not abbot, but simply prior; it was by honor that he was given the first title. There is probably a stone coffin under this lid, as under the previous one. Another monk from Rhuys, named Simon, died in his prime, and was buried outside the north transept, between the apsidiole and the choir.

Four children of the Duke of Brittany Jean I and Blanche de Champagne, who died at Sucinio, were buried side by side in the choir of the Saint-Gildas Church. Their funerary slabs, adorned with their image in a single line, and framed in an intaglio inscription, have been worn under the feet of passers-by. You have here ,Thibaud I of Brittany represented standing, hands joined , We then have Aliénor de Bretagne, born and died in 1248 , Then comes Thibaud II, born in 1247 and died in 1251, We finally have Nicolas de Bretagne, born in 1249 and died in 1251 in his third year. Intended for the ecclesiastical state, he wears the costume, and his epitaph is in Latin

The Saint Gildas Abbey’s reception center is open all year round to accommodate individual stays, groups, training courses and spiritual retreats. At your disposal, 80 rooms for a capacity of 140 people. For today’s tourist, Saint-Gildas de Rhuys is a charming and busy summer resort on the south coast of Brittany, very close to the Gulf of Morbihan. By the sea, alternate high granite cliffs, small sunny beaches, coves sheltering small ports like le port aux moines or monks port are sublime, nice trip there for sure.

The official Abbey Church of Saint Gildas: https://www.abbaye-de-rhuys.fr/

The Friends of the Abbey Church of Saint Gildas: http://amis-abbatiale.blogspot.com/p/visites-de-labbatiale.html

The city of Saint Gildas de Rhuys and its heritage: https://www.saint-gildas-de-rhuys.fr/categorie/decouvrir/patrimoine/

There you go folks, indeed I believe my beautiful Morbihan and my lovely Bretagne has an endless amount of things to see and do and this just one region of my belle France where I live for the last 9 plus years of my life. Hope you enjoy the post on the Abbey Church of Saint Gildas as we have and share the enthusiasm and awesome experience with you.

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

I bring you back to quant off the beaten path Billio in my beautiful Morbihan of my lovely Bretagne and in my belle France.  Billio is a small territory, limited to the north by Guéhenno, to the west by Saint-Jean-Brévelay, to the south by Plumelec, and to the east by Cruguel. The city center is only 7 km from Saint-Jean-Brévelay, 24 from Ploërmel, and 28 from Vannes.I like to show you new text and pictures on the Church Notre Dame of Billio ! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The parish of Billio would be of monastic origin. Its first name being Monstoer which became Mouster-Biliou, then Billio in homage to Bili, the bishop of Vannes killed by the Normans in the 10C. Independent in 1422, it was then united with that of Cruguel and remained so until the French revolution. Erected as a town in 1790, it became independent again in 1802.

It was probably in the middle of the 16C that a first church was erected since a sculpted stone from a previous church bears the date of 1553. This one was dedicated to Saint-Corentin, the bishop of Quimper and one of the 7 holy founders of Brittany in the 5C.

The Notre-Dame Church  built from 1471-1860. This church was erected to replace an ancient church dedicated to Saint Corentin and whose structure was decorated in the 17C. From this old church, there remains a carved stone giving the date of 1553. The oldest parts date from 1471. The present Church is built in 1860. The stained glass of the Virgin, dates from the 20C  representing  the Virgin surrounded by little angels. One can admire a chalice in vermeil from the 18C  to the arms of the family of Lantivy, and two processional crosses, of the 18C also, one of them in silver. The square tower, built in granite, stands out slightly in front of the two side chapels. In its hemicycle, the choir retains the stalls and high woodwork placed in 1872. At the entrance, we notice a granite font which does not lack elegance.

When you enter the Notre Dame Church, you notice its beautiful proportions and the pretty light that bathes the whole. This is due to the three magnificent stained glass windows in the choir. These were made by the master glassmaker Bonneville when he was a refugee in Rieux between 1939 and 1945.  They represent, from left to right, Joseph, the Virgin surrounded by cherubs and Saint Anne. The stained glass windows of the side chapels represent the appearance of Lourdes to the north and the appearance of the Sacred Choir to the south. The current configuration of the church results from the arrangements of 1961 and 1971. Gradually decorated, the whole has some beautiful objects such as the two altars or the granite stoup near the entrance. Note also some beautiful statues including Notre-Dame de la Salette which protects the church and which is above the entrance.

The town of Billio on its Notre Dame Church: https://billio.fr/eglise-notre-dame-de-billio/

Pretty pond behind the Notre Dame Church of Billio!

There you go folks, another wonderful ride thru the nice off the beaten paths little towns of my beautiful Morbihan. Bear with me and you too can have an unique visit to unique places on the off the beaten path trails such as nice Church of Notre Dame of Billio, Again, hope you have enjoy the post as I.

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

And we go on, on an endless tour of my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of the lovley region of Bretagne in my belle France. The views,sights are indeed endless here and I am doing my best to introduce you to the off the beaten paths of my Brittany. Let me bring you back with new text and pictures on a new visit to quant small Quily ,and its Church of Saint Nicodéme ! To note this town is now under the Val d’Oust name since 2016, Hope you enjoy it as I.

The main thing to see in Quily is the Church of Saint Nicodéme. It was built in 1689, is in the architectural style known as the “Latin cross”, in a pseudo classical style , and the 16C cemetery. The church houses altars dedicated to Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary. Under the southern porch is a chest with sculpted panels from the 16C. The Church was originally built as the Church of Notre Dame des Neiges (our lady of snow). Since 1802 the name is that of Saint Nicodéme.

This was an anclosed parish. The main entrance gate into the cemetery was once permanently closed. One entered by this door only for the baptisms, the marriages and the burials. This door is located in the cardinal point where the sun sets, symbol of the night, darkness, death. The ordinary passage is made by stepping over the stile stone. The current wall is a very simple gable wall, a construction derived from 16C belfry walls. The rampants are interrupted by the bell tower ending at the 4 corners with animal heads. The southern rampant carries in the thickness of the wall stair steps for access to the bells. The many crossettes of the rampants represent dragons, monkeys, dogs, lions, chimeras, etc. The nave contains several statues including a Pieta, a Trinity and a Saint Derrian. The lectern features a child’s head with a deformed face.

The new city of Val d’Oust on its heritage includes the above church: https://www.mairie-valdoust.fr/les-monuments

There you go folks, again on the beaten path town of Quily and the quant Church of Saint Nicodéme ! Again hope you have enjoyed the new post as I

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

The new town of Val d’Oust  since 2016 and formerly Le Roc Saint André from 1951  was the town where one of my boys worked and has a wonderful brewery reasons to visit a few times, However, I came back to it for the memories and to bring you more of its wonderful Canal Nantes to Brest. This post is new text and new pictures. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Canal Nantes-Brest is a small gauge canal that links the cities of Nantes and Brest and follows the Erdre, Isac, Oust and Blavet valleys (which it joins at Pontivy) , Doré, Kergoat, Hyères and Aulne; these rivers are connected by three junction canals crossing water divides. The Canal Nantes-Brest is dotted with 238 locks, 17 of which are submerged by the Guerlédan dam .The canal is long of 360 km with 236 locks (not done them all!) linking four rivers , the Loire, Vilaine, Aulne and Blavet, Also helps linking 8 rivers such as the Erdre, Oust, Blavet, etc, It ends at 184 meters below the sea level. Below pic from the Church Saint André (see post)

The towpath of the Nantes to Brest canal is a royal road that offers kilometers of walks in peace and safety, for those who dream of discovering at their own pace and effortlessly, by bike, on foot or on horseback all of inland Brittany. Through locks, bridges and other weirs, the Nantes to Brest canal offers a diversity of water landscapes, wild or tamed nature, exceptional works of art… In the town of Val d’Oust, there are two locks: that of Ville aux Figlins at Roc Saint André and that of Blon at Quily.

The new town of Val d’Oust on the Canal Nantes to Brest: https://www.mairie-valdoust.fr/Voie-verte-Canal-de-Nantes-%C3%A0-Brest

The Canals of Brittany on the Canal Nantes to Brest : https://www.canauxdebretagne.org/canaux-de-bretagne_canal-de-nantes-a-brest_en-chiffres.htm

There you go folks ,some more interesting trips off the beaten path in my beautiful Morbihan.  Again ,hope you enjoy the new post with new pictures of the Canal Nantes to Brest now in the new town of Val d’Oust as I

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

The new town of Val d’Oust  since 2016 and formerly Le Roc Saint André from 1951  was the town where one of my boys worked and has a wonderful brewery reasons to visit a few times, However, I came back to it for the memories and to bring you more of its wonderful Church of Saint André. This post is new text and new pictures. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

At the origin of the village had a simple Chapel ,the Chapel of Rotz  which becomes in 1608  the Chapel of the Roc  and at the French revolution, Pont du Roc. First erected as a town in 1790 and in parish in 1802 , the town takes in 1951 its current name of Le Roc-Saint-André, and last became, on 1 January 2016, a common delegate of the new town of Val-d’Oust. It merges with the towns of La Chapelle-Caro and Quily within the new municipality of Val-d’Oust. (see their posts).

The Church of Saint André was first a trevial church built in 1608, in the ogival style and, having become dilapidated, was razed in 1901 ,thenwas rebuilt between 1901 and 1903. The church adopted a one-vessel Latin cross plan with a steeple 35 meters high, The neo-Gothic Church of Roc Saint-André is part of the great movement of reconstruction of churches that marked the 19C. The vast bays with flamboyant fenestrations, concentrated on the south facade, bring a very great luminosity to the interior of the church. To the west, the Cornish-inspired bell tower is flanked by a staircase turret and bears a granite masonry spire

The oils on canvas of Lhermitais date from the 18C, and come from the abbey of Roga (Saint-Congard), destroyed during the French revolution. The side altars are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and the Sacred Heart. A statue of Saint  Andrew, the patron of the parish, appears on the façade dominating the Canal Nantes Brest on the Oust river.

The new town of Val d’Oust on its heritage: https://www.mairie-valdoust.fr/les-monuments

The Morbihan dept 56 tourist board on Val d’Oust St Andrew’s Church: https://www.morbihan.com/val-d-oust/eglise-saint-andre/tabid/12562/offreid/c223a69b-6671-4d66-89ee-53a778251443

There you go folks , some more interesting trips off the beaten path in my beautiful Morbihan.  Again ,hope you enjoy the new post with new pictures of the Church Saint André now in the new town of Val d’Oust as I

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

And coming back at you with another off the beaten path gem of my beautiful Morbihan. This Guer has lots of architecture and history in it, and you can see my previous posts on it. However, new passing, new pictures and a new post on more curiosities of Guer ! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The town of Guer includes four subdivisions such as Guer-Coëtquidan, Saint-Raoul, La Telhaie and Bellevue-Coëtquidan where you will find the military schools of Saint-Cyr-Coëtquidan, (see post) located straddling the neighboring town of Saint-Malo-de –Beignon (see post). The town, also, borders on the forest of Brocéliande, where the legend of Merlin the magician, the fairy Morgane and the fairy Viviane is woven.

A bit on the town and city hall or mairie of Guer.  In 1795, the district was abolished and Guer became the capital of the municipality of the canton of Guer, made up of representatives of the towns of Guer and Monteneuf. In 1800, the municipal assembly was restored and Guer was integrated into the district of Ploërmel In 1801, it retained its status as chief town of the canton , maintained in 2014 delimiting the cantons in Morbihan . Since the abolition of the arrondissement of Ploërmel in 1926, Guer has been part of the arrondissement of Vannes. The current mairie or City hall was done between 1883 and 1889.

Boulangerie des Arcades 1 Pl. Claire Fontaine It has closed unfortunately, Before was a former cloister, this remarkable house is certainly the oldest in Guer; it dates from the 11C !

The city of Guer : https://www.ville-guer.fr/

The Guer-Coetquidan Broceliande tourist office on the heritage of Guer: http://www.guer-coetquidan-broceliande.fr/bisto/guer/guer2.html

There you go folks, again, another gem and an off the beaten path site of my beautiful Morbihan! As said, plenty to see here and all wonderful architecture and history in magical Guer. Hope you enjoy this post on more curiosities of Guer as I.

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