Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

12  INTRODUCING BRIT T AN Y

A Week in and illuminated by 15th-century
Southwestern stained glass windows. Take time
Brittany to explore the nearby Musée
des Beaux-Arts (p167), with
• Airport Arrive at the Brest- works by the Pont-Aven school,
Bretagne Airport. and the Musée Départemental
• Transport A car is essential Breton d’Art et de Traditions
for the trip. Populaires (pp166–7), covering
3,000 years of Breton history
• Moving on Depart from
Rennes by train or bus. and traditional costumes. If time
allows, head for the Musée de
la Faïence (p168) in the historic
Day 1: Landévennec to Locmaria district, which explains
Quimper why Quimper makes faïence,
Head southeast from the Brest- along with a display of historic
Bretagne airport to take the pottery. Top it all off with a
scenic Corniche de Térénez to factory tour of Faïencierie
Landévennec (p152) to see the HB-Henriot (p168). A cluster of half-timbered medieval houses
ruins of the abbey and explore in Vannes
the Musée de l’Ancienne Day 3: Concarneau
Abbaye. Drive on to Crozon Known as the “Blue Town” after an insight into the town’s
(p152) to swim in its turquoise the blue fishing nets used in the history. From here, take the
lagoons and relax on its sandy early 20th century, the walled highway east to Quimperlé
beaches. While here, visit the Concarneau (pp172–4) is the (p175), an impressive town of
Église St-Pierre to marvel at the sixth-largest fishing port in France. noble residences and churches.
extraordinary 16th-century Visit the Musée de la Pêche
altarpiece of the Ten Thousand (p174) which houses maritime Day 5: Kernascléden, Pontivy
Martyrs, with its 24 sculpted exhibits as well as an aquarium and Josselin
wooden, painted panels. Carry containing Atlantic fish species. Delve inland to Kernascléden
on to Camaret (pp152–3) for a A short walk south west is the (p201) to see eerie frescoes
tour of Vauban’s fortifi cations; Marinarium (p174), one of depicting the Dance of Death in
on the outskirts are the 142 Europe’s first marine research the village’s 15th-century church.
menhirs of the Alignements de stations. After a seafood lunch, Carry on to Pontivy (p200) for a
Lagatjar (p153). End the day at take a walk around the nearby stroll around the medieval town
Pleyben (pp156–7), renowned Pointe du Cabellou (p174), a that sprawls out around the
for its unique dark granite beautiful promontory lined imposing Château des Rohans.
“Gospel in Stone” calvary. with sandy coves. Round off the day in Josselin
(p197) with a tour of its impres-
Day 2: Quimper Day 4: Pont-Aven and sive Flamboyant-Gothic chateau
Spend a day in the historical, Quimperlé and the Basilique Notre-Dame-
faïence-manufacturing town of Drive to the famous 19th-century du-Roncier, which shelters a
Quimper (pp164–71). Start at the artists’ colony of Pont-Aven miraculous statue of the Virgin.
covered market and walk along (p175), where Paul Gauguin
Rue Kéréon and its surrounding painted many of his early Day 6–7: Vannes and the
streets to see Quimper’s tradi- masterpieces. Spend time Golfe du Morbihan
tional corbelled houses. Next, explor ing the town’s various A 45-minute drive from Josselin,
visit the Cathédrale St-Corentin art galleries housing works Vannes (pp192–5) is a beautiful
(pp168–9), a Romanesque Gothic by contempo rary artists. The medieval city. Begin at the
masterpiece dating back to 1239 Musée de Pont-Aven provides splendid Cathédrale St-Pierre
(p194), and then head to the
nearby Musée de la Cohue
(p194) to explore its fine
collection of works, includ ing
Delacroix’s celebrated
Crucifixion. Later, visit the
Musée d’Histoire (p195), filled
with intriguing prehistoric relics.
Vannes makes a superb base
for exploring the Golfe du
Morbihan (pp188–91). The main
attraction here is the Cairn de
Gavrinis (p190) – the largest
dolmen in France. Around 30
View of the 17th-century cloisters at Ste-Anne-d’Auray km (19 miles) west of the town
For practical information on travelling around Brittany, see pp266–71

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