Page 179 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION  177

MORBIHAN

Occupying the central southern part of Brittany, the
Morbihan, which means “little sea” in Breton, takes its
name from the .Golfe du Morbihan on the département’s
southeasterly side. With gentle landscapes bathed in sunshine,
a deeply indented coastline washed by the Atlantic Ocean, historic
towns and cities and harbours thronged with boats, the Morbihan
holds many attractions.

The history of the Morbihan goes back to that of the days in the year. The islands
the remote past. Neolithic people raised include the Île d’Arz, the aptly named Belle­
an impressive number of large and mys­ Île, the Île de Groix and the Île d’Houat,
terious standing stones here: the alignments which are a delight for nature lovers.
at Carnac and Locmariaquer between The Presqu’île de Quiberon, a narrow spit
them constitute the largest concentration of land pro truding out to sea, is almost like
of megalithic monuments in the world. a separate region. The peninsula’s indented
The Golfe du Morbihan, which is Côte Sauvage (Wild Coast) to the west
extended inland by the Auray and contrasts with its more sheltered eas tern
Vannes rivers, is almost like an inland side, where there are many beaches.
sea. Marshland and mud flats are home Great vitality characterizes towns and
to flocks of birds of various species. The cities in the Morbihan, from Vannes,
gentle climate, in which a Medi terranean which was established in Gallo­Roman
vegetation flourishes, the beauty of a times, to Lorient, which was rebuilt
landscape of ever­chan ging colours, after World War II. In the interior are
and the soft sand beaches here combine such monuments to past glories as the
to make the Morbihan a popular Château de Josselin and Château de
tourist destination. Pontivy, picturesque houses in Rochefort­
The gulf is dotted with a host of small en­Terre, and the fine his toric covered
islands, whose number is said to equal markets in Questembert and Le Faoüet.

The Neolithic alignment of 540 menhirs at Kerlescan, outside Carnac
The beautiful village of Rochefort-en-Terre in Morbihan

176-177_EW_Brittany.indd 177 11/3/16 1:03 PM