And back on my local road warrior mode, this time going south to old Brittany in the Loire Atlantique dept 44 of the new Pays de la Loire region. A wonderful coastal trip of my belle France just south of me with plenty of architecture, history, and beaches, Let me tell you about curiosities of Pornic !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Pornic is located in the Loire-Atlantique department 44, in the Pays de la Loire region. Pornic merged with Clion-sur-Mer (1973) and Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer, (2007). The town is part of historic Brittany, in the traditional country of the country of Retz and in the historic country of the Nantes. Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the city is known for its castle and old port. Pornic is located on the coast of Jade, on the banks of the Baie de Bourgneuf, 45 km from Nantes ,20 km from Saint-Nazaire and 143 km from my house, The town is crossed by the road RD 213, called Route Bleue (blue road), connecting Guérande to Moutiers-en- Retz which allows access to Pornic via three interchanges. The other main axis is the RD 751 which connects the city to Nantes. It runs along the Loire on her left bank. The RD 13, former main axis, crosses the town from east to west and links it to the La Bernerie-en-Retz and the Plaine-sur-Mer, the Pornic train station is the terminus of the Sainte-Pazanne line-Pornic and the Nantes-Pornic line. The town is connected to Nantes, chief town of the department by eight daily round trips provided by the TER Pays de la Loire, The crossing of the Baie de Bourgneuf is reborn in 2021 and makes it possible to connect the port of the Noëveillard de Pornic to the port de l’Herbaudière, located in the town of Noirmoutier-en-l’île ( an island).
The Pays de Retz or country of Retz extends to the department of Loire-Atlantique 44. It is one of the traditional countries of Brittany of the Ancien Régime (monarchy), erected as barony then as a duchy. The country of Retz was the stronghold of the different families of the lords of Retz, most of whom were not Breton, and who have followed families since the 11X, The Pays de Retz was one of the main fiefs of Gilles Retz, companion in arms of Jeanne d’Arc and Maréchal de France. It was also the stronghold of the Gondi family, of Italian origin, located in France under the regency of Catherine de Médicis in the 16C, and for whom it became duchy. It was still one of the main places of deployment of the Vendée wars during the French revolution. The country of Retz is currently made up of 40 towns, therefore, Villeneuve-en-Retz, composed of the old town of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, itself encompassing the ancient village of Saint-Cyr-en-Retz, and the old town of Fresnay-en-Retz, Also, La Bernerie en Retz, Pornic and Préfailles,(see posts).
The Le Manoir de la Touche, 17 rue de Verdun dates from the Renaissance (16C), regularly accommodated from 1853 Jules Michelet, who wrote part of his « Histoire de la Révolution Française » or history of the French Revolution there. He also wrote « La Mer » or the sea there in 1861.
Les Halles,or market, first here since 1609 owned by the city since 1825, date from the 18C, when the Duke of Villeroy and de Retz decided to replace the first building built on the orders of Duke Henri de Gondi in 1609 Since its renovation in 2000 , they are no longer accessible outside market days.The frame was altered in particular in the middle of the 18C following a strong storm. There are only few original elements left, since columns of cement and briquettes were added to the 19C replacing the poles certainly in original wood.
The City/town hall of Pornic is located at the Place de l’Hotel de Ville,in the upper town.
Other interesting monuments of Pornic are the typical from the holiday houses built in the 19C, the Villa Roche Cahn was decorated with red bricks, earthenware, and pillars and painted wooden terraces. We find these elements in the old casino, built in 1899 on the beach of Gourmalon. The gare or train station (Line Nantes – Sainte -Pazanne – Pornic) dates from 1875, The English cemetery of Pornic or Pornic War Cemetery was opened to allow the burial of the victims of the sinking of RMS Lancastria, torpedoed on June 17, 1940. Half of the 399 tombs of the site concern victims of this event,
A bit of history I like tell us after three centuries of struggle between Francs and Bretons, the countries of Retz, Nantes and Rennes are integrated in 851 into the Breton kingdom, under the Treaty of Angers, birth certificate of historic Brittany. In 938, Duke Alain Barbetorte chased the Vikings to Pornic and released the country of Retz. He built a castle on the site of the one we know to defend the southern march of the Duchy and the bay of Brittany, the current Bourgneuf bay and Marais Breton. From the 1830s, the city was a privileged destination for foreigners (Parisians, Nantes, Angevins !) ,Thanks to its ferruginous sources of water and its beaches conducive to sea baths. The Arrival of these Resorts generated construction Infrastructure to welcome them. The wealthiest built sumptuous residences along the coast between the Castle Beach and that of La Noëveillard. Pornic became a very popular resort and frequented by personalities from letters and arts, of which at that time were wrriters like Gustave Flaubert, Paul Léautaud, Michelet, Robert Browning or Julien Gracq ; and many painters such as Auguste Renoir, Edgar Maxence, Henri Lebasque, Charles Leduc, Jean Henri Choupe, Charles Jacque, Émile Guillaume, Fernand Lantoine, Félix Thomas, Gustave Quenioux, Charles Fouqueray, Edouard Porquier, Armand Guillaumin, Gustave Loiseau, Raoul du Gardier and Max Ernst. Magnificnet seaside villas were built between Pornic and Sainte-Marie, and in the Gourmalon District where we also come to take the waters at the source of Malmy. The construction of the Mole Casino in 1908 consolidates the reputation of the increasingly frequented station.
The town of Pornic on its heritage : https://www.pornic.fr/pornic-ma-ville/decouvrir-pornic/patrimoine/
The Pornic tourist office on Pornic : https://en.pornic.com/pornic-destination-pornic-sainte-marie.html
There you go folks, a short but pleasant trip to the beautiful old Bretagne, that is Loire Atlantique dept 44. The sea at its best, nice monuments, and pleasant road warrior driving were all that was needed, we have been back !!!! Again, hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Pornic as I.
And remember happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 