Sometimes I like to repeat myself when the place is worth it and this is one of them, I used to lived not far from here in Brec’h when moved into the Morbihan breton dept 56 in 2011 and later purchase my house in Pluvigner in 2013. However, Auray has charm and we always come here and shop here too. I felled in love with Saint Goustan , a harbor district of Auray. I have several posts on the town ,which was my adminstrative central back then. Therefore, I just want to give you again, the port of Saint Goustan in Auray, part II !!!. Hope you enjoy it as I.
The port of Saint-Goustan is a former fishing and trading port, located on the banks of the Auray river, which has become one of the districts of Auray. It takes its name from Saint Goustan, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. In Saint-Sauveur Church,(see post) a model boat suspended from the ceiling recalls this attachment to the Holy Benefactor for sailors. It is one of our fav places here to hangout and go out to restos/bars, the nice way down from the upper town of Auray is to take the
rue du Château to reach the port by its pretty little stone bridge, with no less than 4 arches.
The port of Saint-Goustan is a privileged place to stroll or go out, extremely picturesque with its granite quay and curved cobblestones, bordered by half-timbered houses. Almost all the houses in the area date back to the 15-16C, with half-timbering and corbelled structures. It is a very lively place in the evening, where it is good to sit on the terrace. And we do enjoy these moments sublime ,especially at night awesome, a must to visit. The picturesque Auray River is a ria that begins at Auray, empties into the Gulf of Morbihan and is navigable. The length of its water course is 56.3 km !
The port of Saint-Goustan is a former fishing and trading port, located on the banks of the Auray river, which has become one of the districts of Auray. It takes its name from Saint Goustan, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The Quai Benjamin Franklin wharf measures 220 meters. Memories still echo on the granite slabs, recalling that the American Benjamin Franklin docked here on December 4 ,1776 to meet Louis XVI ; asked the kingdom of France for help for US independance and got it ,and so a new nation was born, Le charmant port remonte au Moyen Âge et est encore aujourd’hui le centre historique de la ville d’Auray. De nombreux bâtiments datent des 15ème, 16ème et 17ème siècles. C’est également ici que vous trouverez un mélange de ruelles pavées et de restaurants où vous pourrez déguster une cuisine et des produits locaux. The charming port dates back to the Middle Ages and is still today the historic center of the town of Auray. Many buildings date from the 15C, 16C and 17C. It is also here that you will find a mixture of cobbled streets and restaurants where you can taste local cuisine and products.
The Place Saint-Sauveur square is typical and we love to walk it back and forth, sublime especially at nights, with its curved cobblestones is framed by opulent half-timbered and corbelled houses. The steep alleys, interspersed with steps. The residences of the 15C and 16C display a respectable allure, which in the evening slums in the rustle of the café terraces. Indeed sublime, recommended to all readers, visitors and would be residents. The most picturesque shore is reached by crossing the four-arched stone bridge from the 13C. Place Saint-Sauveur with its curved cobblestones is framed by opulent houses, with half-timbered frames and corbelled structures. The steep alleys, interspersed with steps, storm the neighborhood , bordered by half-timbered facades. The 15-16C mansions display a respectable allure, which in the evening falls into the rustle of the café terraces. Always great ambiance especially at nights. At the height of the district you have two churches with two bell towers competing in the Saint-Goustan district. The Saint-Sauveur Church 15C and the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Chapel 19C (see post).
The picturesque rue du Petit Port, with its wood-paned houses from the late middle ages and the beginning of modern times , Indeed some interesting doors for the blogger aficionado in some ! This street, which led to a second port, smaller than that of Place Saint-Sauveur, now has the largest number of half-timbered houses: nine out of the forty remaining in Auray. The gable of the house, located in front, consists of a ground floor in stone surmounted by two levels in wood and cob. The entrance door, placed laterally, opens onto two adjoining rooms. At the bottom, a spiral staircase allows the distribution of the floors. The house, built on a strip plot, is placed directly on the street, thus allowing commercial activity on the ground floor. The garden or courtyard is placed at the back. It is used for raising animals and growing vegetables.
The Rue Saint-René is the most picturesque and leads you to the heights of Saint-Goustan, up to the church. this pedestrianized street features cobbled steps with a handrail that offer lovely views of the harbor and beyond.
The Saint Goustan port also have excellent boating and river raft activities with good service provider,a wonderful time for the whole family. It has a small harbormaster office as well. I saw one go out today on a floater boat , he is courageous with 7C (45 F). Here there is a kayak, sailing and scuba diving club.
A bit of history I like tell us that at the beginning of the 17C, the town of Auray decided to build a port on the left bank of the
Loc’h river. Docks and holds are fitted to facilitate the unloading of commercial vessels, The city imports wine, salt, leather, iron and steel from Biscay. In return, it exports wheat, rye, oats, butter, meat, fish, cloth and linen. At the time, the Pays d’Auray was a surplus producer of cereals. Only the transport of wooden poles to support the coal mines of Wales still ensured, at the beginning of the 20C, some activity on Franklin Wharf.Which of course soon ended thereafter. The development of the great port of Auray was completed in 1641 with the construction of a quay and two wedges connecting the old quay and the one built in 1615. These works gave birth to the Place Saint-Sauveur then continued towards the south by the construction of the current
quai Franklin or wharf. The port, which has become a marina of approximately 155 berths, is backed by the quay. The port is painted by many artists, including Odilon Redon and Mathurin Méheut. The port directly inspired the screenwriter and designer of the comic book series only for the location of the action of the eleventh volume Les Cloueurs de nuit. The village is called
Kerdol in the comics ! During the 20C, while the port of Saint-Goustan became one of the most frequented tourist sites in the
Pays d’Auray and Morbihan, for its picturesque character and the half-timbered houses on the Place Saint-Sauveur, the large granite stones of this quay gradually separated and the circulation of water dug pockets behind the retaining wall.
I believe I have mentioned this before but here it goes again; who was Saint Goustan? The district bears his name now, the patron Saint of the fisherman and marines. He was born in 974 in Cornouailles and raised by pirates at 18 yrs old, wounded he was left abandon in the island or île d’Houat out from the Gulf of Morbihan in the Atlantic ocean where he lived by providence that provided him with fish , so he is represented by a fish, and the care of Saint Félix, that will convert him to Christianism. He became a monk in 1025 and founded a priory on the island or île de Hoëdic also close to the island above. He now rests with his brother monks in the abbey of Saint-Gildas de Rhuys ,Presqu’île de Rhuys (see post).
The more technical side of the Port of Saint Goustan has buoys (front and rear). Buoys visit. located 200 meters after the Kerplouz bridge, on the port side, facing the Quai Franklin. On pontoon A: 42 places on catways, on pontoon B: 50 places on catways Draft 0.5 to 2 meter, and Boats <12 m. A total of 155 places per year including 25 visitor places for boats <12 meters. Water depth goes from 1 to 2.5 meters. The official Port of Saint Goustan: https://port-de-saint-goustan-auray.com/
The Bateaux pleasure boating magazine on Saint Goustan: https://www.bateaux.com/plaisance/port/auray-saint-goustan-REF5-qqiRkY1gM,
The city of Auray on its heritage see circuit Saint Goustan: https://www.auray.fr/Ma-ville/Patrimoine/Les-monuments-historiques
The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Saint Goustan : https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/the-port-of-saint-goustan-in-auray
The Morbihan dept 56 tourist office on the port Saint Goustan: https://www.morbihan.com/accueil/decouvrir/le-morbihan/les-incontournables/saint-goustan-port-d-auray
The Bretagne region tourist board on the port Saint Goustan: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/southern-brittany-morbihan-gulf/auray-port-of-saint-goustan/
There you go folks, Saint Goustan is a lovely small district nestled below port of the City of Auray ; sitting between the regional government powerhouses of Lorient and Vannes as well as down from my town of Pluvigner. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the port of Saint Goustan in Auray, part II !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 