Page 160 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

158  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

the 17th and 18th centuries, at Port Rhu, a centre for the
they were the residences of preservation of the local
Locronan’s wealthy citizens. seafaring heritage, that together
The Chapelle Bonne- draw visitors to Douarnenez.
Nouvelle, in Rue Moal, Between the quays and the
has a small cal vary and an town centre is the 17th-century
attrac tive fountain. Chapelle St-Michel, which
contains a collection of 52
E Musée d’Art et d’Histoire mission pictures created by
Tel (02) 98 91 70 14. Open Apr–Jun & Michel Le Nobletz (see p133).
Sep: Sun–Fri; Jul–Aug: daily. & During the summer months,
R Église St-Ronan and Chapelle exhibitions are held here.
du Pénity
Place de l’Église. Open daily. E Le Port Musée
R Chapelle Bonne-Nouvelle Place de l’Enfer. Tel (02) 98 92 65 20.
Rue Moal. Open Easter–Sep. For other Open Jul–Aug: daily; Apr–Jun & Sep–
times, phone Mairie (02) 98 51 80 80. Oct: Tue–Sun. & 8
R Chapelle St-Michel
q Douarnenez Rue du Port-Rhu. Tel (02) 98 92 13 35.
Open by arrangement. For
Road map B2. * 15,820. exhibitions, phone to check times.
Granite-built house, typical of buildings £ Quimper. k Quimper-
in Locronan Cornouaille. n 2 Rue du Dr-Mével; w Réserve du Cap
(02) 98 92 13 35. ( Halles de la
0 Locronan Grande-Place de Tréboul (Mon–Sat, Sizun
am); Tréboul harbour (Wed & Sat am).
Road map B2. * 800. £ Quimper. 8 Vieux quartiers (old town), Jul– Road map A2. 20 km (13 miles) west
n Place de la Mairie; (02) 98 91 70 14. Aug; enquire at tourist office. of Douarnenez via the D7, Chemin de
( Tue. _ Pardon La Petite Troménie ∑ douarnenez-tourisme.com Kérisit. n 64 Rue de Bruyères, Beuzec
(2nd Sun July). 8 Jul–Aug: Tue & Thu Cap-Sizun (02) 98 70 55 51. Bretagne
3pm ∑ locronan-tourisme.com Vivante SEPNB: Tel (02) 98 70 13 53.
Douarnenez was once the
A legend tells that Ronan, largest sardine port in France, This nature reserve, created
an Irish monk, came to and its was here that the first in 1959 by Michel-Hervé
Cornouaille. He worked canning factories opened, in Julien and Bretagne Vivante
tirelessly to evangelize the area, 1853. Fishing, in which about SEPNB (Société d’Étude et
and it became an important 1,000 people are engaged, de Protection de la Nature
place of pilgrimage. In the can no longer support the en Bretagne), covers 25 ha
15th century, Locronan population of Douarnenez, (62 acres) on the north coast
(Lokorn in Breton) developed although the fresh fish auction of Cap Sizun. It attracts many
thanks to the linen and held here is still one of the ornithologists, as, from April
hemp-weaving industry that largest in Brittany. to the end of August, sea birds
provided Europe with sailcloth. Remains of a garum factory come here to breed in their
Old looms and local costumes discovered at Les Plomarc’h, a thousands. Migrating birds
are displayed in the Musée small fishing village next to are also seen here. There are
d’Art et d’Histoire. Douarnenez, indicate that the marked footpaths to help
The Église St-Ronan, built in site was settled in the Gallo- visitors explore, and guided
the 15th century, is con nected Roman period. Garum was a fish walks are available.
to the 16th-century Chapelle sauce highly prized throughout At Pont-Croix, on the right
du Pénity. The apse of the the Roman world. bank of the Goyen river,
church is lit by a large Today, it is the cove at which runs along the southern
15th-century stained-glass Tréboul and the Le Port Musée, part of Cap Sizun, stands
window of the Passion of
Christ, and the pulpit (1707) is
carved with medallions with
scenes from the life of St
Ronan. There is also a rosary
altarpiece, dating from the 17th
century. The chapel contains a
recumbent figure of St Ronan
and a magnificent Descent from
the Cross in painted stone.
The square, in which there
is a well, is lined with houses
with granite façades. Built in Port Rhu and the maritime museum in Douarnenez, with vessels tied up at the quayside
For hotels and restaurants see p227 and pp239–41

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