Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

112  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

monumental stairway. There
is also a formal garden.
+ Château de Bienassis
Sur la D786. Tel (02) 96 72 22 03.
8 mid-Apr–mid-Jun: Wed, Fri & Sun
pm; mid-Jun–mid-Sep: Mon–Sat, Sun
pm; phone ahead at other times. &

l Sables-d’Or-les-
Pins
Road map: E1. 8 km (5 miles)
southwest of Cap Fréhel via the
D34a. * 2,100. @ £ Lamballe.
n Fréhel; (02) 96 41 57 23. ( Tue.
This coastal resort with smart
villas in the neo-Norman style
was created in the early 1920s as
a rival to Deauville. With a 3-km
The Château de Bienassis, near Pléneuf-Val-André (2-mile) long sandy beach and
pine trees, it is very popular
k Pléneuf-Val- 4 Pauline with holidaymakers.
André Port de Dahouët. Tel (02) 96 63 10 99.
Open Jun–Sep: daily; Oct–May: by Environs
Road map: D1. @ £ Lamballe. arrangement; pre-booking essential. Erquy, on the D786 west of
* 3,770. n Cours Winston-Churchill; Sables-d’Or, is renowned for its
(02) 96 72 20 55. ( Tue in Pléneuf; Environs clams and scallops. It is also the
Fri in Val-André. _ Fête du Nautisme & The Château de Bienassis, base for a large fleet of deep-
regatta (early Aug); jazz (Jul–Aug: every 4 km (3 miles) east of Pléneuf- sea trawlers. Of all the beaches
Tue); Pardon de Notre-Dame-de-la-
Garde (Aug); Fête de la Mer (mid-Aug). Val-André, was built in 1400 nearby, the Plage de Caroual is
and has been remodelled the best. In summer, the tourist
Originally no more than a several times since. The only office organizes boat trips to the
quiet fishing harbour, Pléneuf- surviving original part is a Île de Bréhat (see p104) and
Val-André was transformed tower behind the chateau. the Baie de St-Brieuc (see p109).
in the late 19th century, Destroyed during the Wars Cap d’Erquy is less well
when developers turned it of the Holy League (see p50), known than Cap Fréhel, yet it
into one of Brittany’s most the chateau was rebuilt in the is one of the most beautiful
sophisticated holiday resorts. 17th century: the part framed headlands in Brittany. Many
With a beautiful sandy beach by towers dates from this phase. marked footpaths cross the
2 km (1 mile) long, it soon The interior contains Breton flower-covered heath here and
became very popular. Renaissance furniture and a run along the indented cliffs,
From the 16th century, beneath which are shingle
fishermen from the neigh- beaches. The views from the
bouring village of Dahouët headland are stunning; to
came to Pléneuf-Val-André to the west, there is a panorama
prepare for cod-fishing expe- across the Baie de St-Brieuc and
ditions off Newfoundland. In to Pointe de Pléneuf beyond.
those days, ships’ captains One of the paths on the
would call at local inns to enlist promontory passes an oppidum
sailors, whose drunken ness popularly known as Caesar’s
would guarantee that they Camp; it was, in fact, a fortified
signed up without protest. Gaulish settlement and its Iron
From Pléneuf-Val-André, two Age earthworks are still visible.
walks, to Pointe de la Guette Classified in 1978, the site was
and to Pointe de Pléneuf, offer bought by the local authority
spectacular views. The Îlot du in 1982 so as to protect it from
Verdelet, opposite Pointe de erosion caused by motorcyclists
Pléneuf, is a bird sanctuary, using it as a rough circuit. In
accessible at low tide. Trips out summer, walks on Cap d’Erquy
to sea on the sailing boat are organized by the Grand
Pauline are organized during The fishing port of Erquy, base of many Site Cap d’Erquy-Cap Fréhel
the holiday season. deep-sea trawlers (02 96 41 50 83).
For hotels and restaurants see pp225–6 and pp235–7

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