I am planning my trip for mid-October and staying in Vannes with a car. I don’t want to travel much further than 90 mins from my base, but will make a few exceptions. What are your favorites? In no particular order here is what I put on my list so far:
Sainte-Barbe chapel
Saint-Fiacre chapel
Locronan
Rochefort-en-Terre
Carnac
Auray
Pont Aven
Les Machines de I’lle - Nantes
Huelgoat forest
Musee du Faouet
Cairn de Gavrinis
Domaine de Suscinio
Here is my take!
Sainte-Barbe chapel -> Never heard of it but now I want to go!
Saint-Fiacre chapel -> it's next to the other one so if you go to one, go to both
Locronan -> cute, but it takes maybe 30 min to visit and it is 1h40 min from Vannes, so it is a NO for me
Rochefort-en-Terre -> better than Locronan starting from Vannes
Carnac -> an absolute must, and keep going to Quiberon (côte sauvage)
Auray -> combines well with Carnac
Pont Aven -> if you have an interest with the art movements associated with Pont-Aven. Not otherwise.
Les Machines de I’lle - Nantes -> if you have kids
Huelgoat forest -> too far, and very rainy
Musee du Faouet -> I guess that if you make the trek to Sainte-Barbe chapel, you can check it out
Cairn de Gavrinis -> fun outing in good weather
Domaine de Suscinio -> never heard of it, no idea!
acechrist,
Carnac!!!! Auray is nice for a meal and short stroll. Lunch or dinner after a visit to Carnac? I don't know the others, except Pont Aven. I am more familiar with Quimper, Le Conquet and Lampaul-Plouarzel (family ties).
I haven't been to Brittany in October, but if you have some stormy weather, recognize that it is part and parcel of the Bretagne experience. Finisterre presents its face to the Atlantic and stands fast...a magnificent and majestic part of France!
Enjoy yourself!
I haven't been to Brittany in October, but if you have some stormy weather, recognize that it is part and parcel of the Bretagne experience.
That's a great way to look at it! I've heard it said that Morbihan is less rainy than the northern coast, so I am crossing my fingers. Weather is less reliable than ever these days...
Bretagne seems to have an intangible mystical quality about it, and am hoping to find places where that can be found as well.
I enjoy reading books set in the locations we intend to visit. If you also enjoy that, check out the mystery series by Jean-Luc Bannalec which are all set in Brittany, mostly in the south-west section. Most of the locations mentioned in his stories are real places. I also enjoyed Nina George's "Little Breton Bistro."
acechrist,
A mystical quality is exactly what Bretagne has. I concur!
acechrist,
To put you in the mood, there is a tv show set in Bretagne which you might find on PBS "Agathe Koltes". It is quite good. Nice scenery of the coast. The series of detective books by Jean-Luc Bannalec about a Parisian detective transplanted to the Breton coast is also enjoyable.
You're missing Site des Mégalithes de Locmariaquer from your list. Definitely worth doing, as is Gavrinis
Agree Locronon is a little too far afield. Lots of options in and around the Gulf of Morbihan. Auray, St. Goustan, Carnac Quiberon are all well worth a visit. Suscinio is a classic castle. Cairn de Garvinis is on an island in the Gulf of Morbihan.
Pont Aven and Rochefort-en-Terre are both too cute for words.
