Paris1972-Versailles2003

These are towns close to mine and of course passed by here ,visit many times, Plenty in my blog on them, but went by today to see something new ;always a find in my beautiful Morbihan. I went out to see some sites on the Heritage Foundation of France list on renovations and could not get on this one but did find out on something new to show in my blog, In continuing my road warrior trip went by anoter nostalgic spot and glad got me an update too, Let me tell you about my curiosities of Crac’h and a bit of nostalgia of Grand Champ !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

With its 57 hectares (about 141 acres) spread over 3 km of coastline, the Domaine du Plessis Kaër benefits from a breathtaking site with a plunging view of the Auray River. It is located by the site of Poulbenn in the town of Crac’h, in my beautiful Morbihan , lovely Bretagne, and belle France, I could not get close as this is under heavy renovation and a private property, One to check further later on with ok from the Heritage Foundation of France.

You will find many more magnificent spaces there such as a 15C castle, a manor entirely renovated, a forest, green moors, sea lanes, a farmhouse, former 19C stables, an orangery, a dovecote, a fountain and a washhouse. The history of the Domaine du Plessis Kaër begins in 1105, when the land of Kaër was established as a lordship with the right of justice over the parishes of Crac’h and Locmariaquer. The first buildings were built from the 12C, while the Château was built by François de Malestroit in the 15C. The castle was acquired in 1727 by Christophe-Paul de Robien, president of the Parliament of Brittany, famous collector and pioneer of archeology in Brittany, who contributed to its interior design by installing a study there. Of course, it was sold as national property in the French revolution.

In 1872, the Parisian engineer Jules Caillot bought the site to make it his second home. He undertook a profound overhaul of the castle on the basis of the old structures to adapt it to the comfort and taste of his time. The castle then underwent its last major renovation with the addition of a majestic neo-Gothic decor and the use of modern techniques and materials, such as the metal beams of the floors. The new rehabilitation project of the Château du Plessis Kaër, winner of the Mission Stéphane Bern 2022, is today in an alarming state of degradation and constitutes the priority for intervention on the entire estate. The restoration work is substantial given the current state of the castle ,End of work estimated for 2024,

I must say at the entrance to the above you have the Antiquité Brocante Décoration store On the site of a former tide mill of Poulbenn,in Crac’h, Very nice folks and worth the detour to check their wonderful items out, webpage : https://www.poulbenn.com/

You will pass the old tide mill located on the edge of the Etang de Poulbenn pond in Crac’h, this former tide mill was used to grind grain using the energy of the sea present in the Gulf of Morbihan. For this, the mills were built at the end of a dyke, thus creating a sea pond which filled during the rising tide. Then, it emptied through the mill during the ebb tide to activate the cogs and produce flour. Today, the mill is in ruins but you can still see its pond as well as the lock that blocked the water. A calm and clean natural site, ideal for family walks and picnics. Here you have the small river Reclus long of almost 5 km coming into the Etang de Poulbenn ,and later goes out into the Auray river, continues to the Gulf of Morbihan and into the Bay of Quiberon before joining finally the Atlantic Ocean !!!

The official Domaine du Plessis-Kaër :https://www.plessiskaer.fr/

While looking for another site that could not be seen at all, I stumbled passed the old baseball field of the Gregam Griffons (Gregam is Breton for Grand Champ , French), It was just behind the collége Saint Joseph (middle school) on the road D133, The City have build a wonderful sports complex Le Queneah Guen there and the baseball has since move with a representative office in the mayor’s office , and the playing field at the Route de Queneah Guen near the water tower. Have it as once I participated a bit on the training of the youngster little time make me leave but nice memories of always, And they are doing good.

The official Gregam Griffons: https://www.gregam-baseball.com/

The city of Crac’h on its heritage/history: https://www.ville-crach.fr/fr-histoire,5.html

The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Crac’h : https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/crac-h

There you go folks, dandy little towns ,nice clean with lots of real living in deep beautiful Morbihan. Never a dull moment at home with so much to see and explore around me alone ! Again, hope you enjoy the post on my curiosities of Crac’h and a bit of nostalgia on Grand Champ as I.

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

Again, in my road warrior trips around my beautiful Morbihan, I had to visit one of my former admin homes that is now very close to my current home. I have many posts on Auray in my blog, and this one was just visiting again today, and new pictures that should be in my blog. Therefore, here is my take on the curiosities of Auray !!! Part III Hope you enjoy it as I

The Chapelle Saint Esprit was one of the most important chapel in the commanderies of the order of Saint Esprit, the members defended and protected the poor, orphans and the sick. It was first built here by the Duke Jean II (John) of Brittany , The Chapel lost its religious vocation in 1790 during the French revolution (as usual). It served as safe heaven for the population during WWII , later housed School children, firefigthers, and local associations. Today, it still holds cultural events and plays of many diverse nature. The chapel found its original aspect after the renovation in 1994. It houses today each year a exposition of comptemporary arts. Also, the place for the Christmas market. Wonderful place indeed especially at Christmas.

Right across from the Chapel was from 1794 it served as a military outpost, the famous Caserne Dugueslin barracks where from 1831 welcome soldiers until the 20C. HQ 2^nd Battalion 4^th Regiment of air infantery from Loir et Cher, The 4^th Regiment were volunteers numbering about 1070 who fought the Nazis in the pocket of Lorient during WWII ,and participated with the 19^th division of infantery of Brittany in the liberation of the south of Brittany, On the first floor (2^nd fl US), on December 19 1944 was killed by an errant soldier the coronel Henri Valin de la Vaissiére , regiment commander and Charles Verrier 2^nd Battalion chief

The Chapelle du pére Eternel, given to Franciscan friars in the 17C to established a school for girls today its richly preserved. The Franciscans order arrived in town, then the Cordeliers, and finally the Sisters of the Charity of St Louis in 1807, you can visit it from July 7 to September 3rd for free.

The former chapelle  de la Congregation ,  The full name is Chapel of the Brothers of the Congregation of Men of the Immaculate Conception . It’s dated from 1672. Only the front is original. Pious craftsmen gathered there to pray to the Virgin. Before going out, observe the tribune and its central panel. You will see the Rapture of Saint Paul , a work performed around 1672-1678 by Antoine de Bray a Parisian decorator who adorned several halls of the parliament of Brittany in Rennes. It was restored in 1890, Today it welcomes the tourist office, at 20 rue du Lait.

The Hôtel de Ville or City/Town Hall was completed in 1782, On its pediment the town’s coat of arms features the Duke’s ermine and the three Royal lilies . facade on the square, roof and belfry 18C , Located at the Place de la République. This was the first mayor’s office I was service to renewed my French passport and my French identity card in the Morbihan breton 56 !!!

Overlooking the port, the foothills of the former castle of Auray (see post)  offers a beautiful point of view, Suggested in your visit, taking the Ramps du Loch which overlooks the river, built on the foothills of the old castle of Auray, this pedestrian path offers a very beautiful view of the port of Saint Goustan and allows you to descend there by passing by a belvedere, made up of stepped square courtyards, erected in 1727 on the remains of the fortified castle of which some ruins can still be seen ,See beyond the Auray river flowing into the Gulf of Morbihan and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, Sublime !

The city of Auray on its heritage: https://www.auray.fr/Ma-ville/Patrimoine/Les-monuments-historiques

he local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Auray:https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/auray

There you go folks, a dandy spot often overlook in the off the beaten paths of my beautiful Morbihan and historical Auray. Again , hope you enjoy this post on the curiosities of Auray as I

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

This is a must each time and town and one of its must visit monuments, , The main church of Auray is a historical and architecturally stunning Church of Saint Gildas ! I was again by the upper town so new pictures and need to be in my blog, Therefore, hope you enjoy the post one more time by the Church Saint Gildas of Auray !!! as I

As have several posts on it will concentrate on showing the new pictures and condence text hoping not to repeat, The  magnificent Church of Saint Gildas, is worth the extra post as this is a wonderful smallish church really but beautifully maintained and very active in town.  In the 12C, the Duchess of Brittany Constance donated to the abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys (see post) land she owned in Auray. The monks set up a priory there, the chapel of which gradually became the parish church of the town. In a state of advanced dilapidation, the church was razed in 1620 to be replaced by the current church, completed in 1663.

The Church of Saint Gildas houses a Laval stone and marble altarpiece from 1664, a 19C organ and baptismal font with carved canopy. From the 18C, it retains woodwork in the side chapels, and an elegant organ case. In the 20C, more precisely in the 1930s, the large windows of the transepts received stained glass windows evoking the life of Saint Gildas.  The 19C was a source of renewal for the church. The baptismal font, confessionals and side altars date from this period.

It also has a resurrection tomb of Christ that was completely renovated and shown proudly upon entering the church on the left aisle.  It dates from the beginning of the 16C. Due to its age and polychromy, it is unique in Brittany. It was originally surrounded by human-sized characters. The whole thing certainly represented the descent from the Cross. The imposing altarpiece of the high altar is in Levallois style and dates from 1657.  It has a set of nine windows on the life of Saint Gildas done from 1812 to 1874.  The bell tower of the three-story square tower, however, was not completed until 1701. It dominates the whole town and will serve as a model for the region. Work on the bell tower of the Church of Saint-Gildas will begin in December 2023 for twelve months. The church will continue to be open.

From 1701 ,the Church of Saint Gildas owned a small organ of which no trace has been preserved. This instrument was dismantled in 1760 and transferred to a chapel which no longer exists. The new organ dates from 1761. In 1795, it would seem that the organ was damaged by prisoners locked up in the church… In 1833, lightning struck the church ,and damaged the organ.  In 1860, the instrument was rebuilt in the German romantic style by organ builder Carl Ewald Julius Heyer (known as Jules Heyer). This postman, originally from the Breslau region in Poland, had come to Quimper since 1847 where he first worked for Cavaille-Coll, and then set up on his own. In 1946, the organ was restored in the Parisian workshops of the Pleyel/Cavaille-Coll house in a more neo-classical style.  In 1979, the Beuchet/Debierre house in Nantes carried out a restoration, and the sideboard has regained its original color. 

The city of Auray on its heritage: https://www.auray.fr/Ma-ville/Patrimoine/Les-monuments-historiques

The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Auray: https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/auray

There you go folks ,like I said a smallish church, but very nicely maintained, said beautiful. A must to visit while in the area and worth the detour. Again, hope you have enjoy my new post on the Church of Saint Gildas of Auray !!! as I

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

Well, I have given my spot where I spent the last 9 years of my working life and memories forever, I am retired so can give you a bit more of the place and for my memorie’s sake to keep in my blog as it is the story of my life, I worked in a town call Saint Nolff just outside the capital City Vannes of the dept 56 my beautiful Morbihan . It was a very nice job, in upper management, with plenty of travel opportunity as my job required a lot of travel. One of the hidden benefits of the job! Now as the time has come to go into the rest period so of speak but boring me think , I have many butterflies and nostalgia sets in; it was a wonderful job that I could have continue until I drop ! Indeed wonderful,,, !

The people were/are very friendly and nice, and we were allowed to work pretty much independant, no time limits plenty of trust, Nowdays ,every time I speak with a former collegue memories come back flashing so to ease the nostalgia ,doing this post, I was next to Vannes in a quiet, small, cozy country heaven,call Saint Nolff, a big change from my previous post near and in Paris. Yes a loving job if I can call it that. I live about 35 minutes from the job by car on the road N165 or can take a semi detour and come into the country road D19 or even better the D779 . Traffic is minimum, and it was super to drive from to work. There were some hot days ,yes very hot days but with a breeze as we are not far from the ocean so even in the canicule we are the least impacted.

The job was on the park of an old castle originally built in 1504 ,now only the ruins of its walls remains, and the face of the manoir or mansion call Château, where the main administrative office is,and where I was ! It has several offices inside the Chateau, housing the different departments or as it is call here Services; a beautiful long garden and forest area, and a cafeteria with hot meals serve daily with choices of menus at reduce prices that could not be beaten anywhere.

My trips were everyt month for several years taking me to many countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, I had responsabilities of 20 countries, 28 companies and 75 factories worldwide !! I will remember the trips and especially the friendship of many nations still in contact, I have some additional pictures which would include in this post for memories’s sake, I was able to go into small towns in these countries away from tourism and see the real country , get to know the real people, families and all. Even taken to their homes !!! Words cannot describe the experiences, memories forever !

The Gulf of Morbihan tourist office on the main event in St Nolff, music festival: https://www.golfedumorbihan.co.uk/evenement/fete-de-la-musique-a-saint-nolff-en/

The Bretagne region tourist office on the event in St Nolff, noise music festival: https://www.brittanytourism.com/offers/fete-du-bruit-saint-nolff-saint-nolff-en-3664908/

The city of St Nolff on its heritage: https://saint-nolff.bzh/monuments-et-histoire/

There you go folks, my last job, and very memorable indeed, Saint Nolff is in my blog in several posts on its sights and now my former job, Talhouet was awesome ! To share the memories with me, at least will have more time to spent with the 3 boys still with me as well as our dog Rex, MybeautifulMorbihan,  lovely  Bretagne  and belle France!  And not to forget my current hole on earth Pluvigner ! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I

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