Events & Festivals in Brittany in October

Digging into the past

For 20 years now, archeological research has been taking place at Mez Notario, located at the center of the Isle of Ouessant. The site and the dig have been managed by Jean-Paul Le Bihan, director of the Finistère Center for Archeological Research (CRAF), which called upon 400 professional and civilian diggers to help bring to light some amazing finds about the origins of Ouessant.

The Armoric Regional Natural Park and the CRAF have organized an exhibit which retraces the history of the digs at Mez Notario to be presented at the Museum of "Phares and Balises." Numerous objects plus articles from the planning stages and several models will be on display. Visitors will be able to easily reconstruct the history of this fascinating island with the materials to be presented. A project that took 20 years to bring to the surface!

The thin line between reality and fiction.

Taysir Batniji's work revolves around notions of individual or collective identity, dissapearance, displacement and exile. The images he brings back from his travels to Gaza, the traces of his journey, are like so many parcels of memory; they represent a vehicle for recording history…

Ville Lenkkeri's photographical works have unusual subjects: museums of natural history, university of medicine collections, or the mural decorations in waiting rooms… These reveal a cinematic approach to photographical art, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Artist Yvan Salomone is more interested in landscapes, even unusual ones such as harbours and industrial ports. His watercolours are made from photographs and video works and are always in the same, large format. His images are ambiguous in the sense that they are caught between an objective documentary-style and a more subjective vision.

Lena et Victor Vorobyev are two Kazakhstan-born artists who work with urban scenes. Within their works (installations, images, performances) the viewer is confronted with communist propaganda alongside the publicity of Western consumer society.

The once and future king.

This first ever exhibition dedicated to the legend of King Arthur aims to retrace, understand and explain the mythology related to Arthur. This event boasts the prestigious "Exposition d'intérêt national" label (or "exhibition of interest to the nation") which is granted by the ministry of culture.

This legend is one if not the most important literary and artistic theme in European culture, and it has always been a highly-popular story. The Champs Libre exhibition aims to reveal the actual King arthur, the keystone of a veritable literary institution that blends magic, war and love… Aside the actual historical fact, this expo refers to old sources as much as contemporary adaptations, in order to better understand the birth of an almost universal legend.

Over 200 works linked to the myth will be on display, along with a number of historical and iconographical documents.

Try out an organic market with 100% natural products.

As you stroll around the Sainte-Thérèse quarter, try some of the organic products for their quality and taste.

The Sainte-Thérèse market is sure to be selling its famous artichokes and cauliflowers and, if you happen to be there at the right time of year, maybe even the famous Coco de Paimpol white beans.

Guaranteed waterproof.

Sailing activities organised all year round for adult sailors, boat owners and works committees, regattas for monotypes and liveaboard cruisers.
Every Saturday morning, as part of the Voile Loisir scheme, beginners can try their hand at liveaboard cruiser sailing.

Authenticity intact.

The Domaine de Kerazan estate was bequeathed to the Institut de France in 1928 by Joseph Astor, the last of an eminent Breton family.
The estate consists of a manor house surrounded by 5 hectares of parkland and a vast expanse of farmland and forests. The land is farmed and maintained in accordance with the wishes of the testator, who stipulated that it should be inalienable.

The manor stands in the Finistère département, halfway between Pont-l'Abbé and Loctudy and some twenty kilometres south-west of Quimper, in Cornouaille, part of the "Bigouden country".
The heart of the estate is the manor house itself, its commons and its park, and the adjoining farm of Grand Kerazan: this was the "big farm", occupied by the "big farmer".
The most striking aspect of the estate is its authenticity: the buildings have remained intact, the manor house retains all its furnishings and collections, as if Joseph-Georges Astor had left it only yesterday.

An architectural marvel.

After passing through Plancoët and describing a series of pleasing meanders at Saint-Lormel, the river Arguenon runs into the Channel at Port du Guildo, in the commune of Créhen.
This estuary is overlooked by the ruins of the old castle, known as the castle of Gilles de Bretagne.
There are a number of megaliths in the area and in a covered alley you will find what is undoubtedly the largest dolmen in the east of the département.
The alley, some 13 metres in length, is covered by five flat stones.
The castle must have been built over a fairly extended period.
From the preseent appearance of the ruins, it is likely that certain parts date from the 13th century.
The castle reached its present general form at the end of the 14th century or in the early 15th century.

Fresh-caught for your pleasure.

Forget for a moment crêpes and galettes with Breton butter, and turn your attention to seafood and the catch of the day.
Scallops make a fine seafood dish, for example. The Côte de Granit Rose serves up some of the very finest of all that the sea has to offer, and your visit to Trébeurden will certainly not leave a bitter taste in your mouth!

Potée bretonne, galettes and delicious crêpes.

Children's playground, Shetland pony stud farm (pony rides in the afternoon), pedalos, valley walk, craft shops, flea market (books, old crockery, ornaments, etc.): the parents and four children of the Lamour family invite you to discover local traditions and history.
Also on offer: home-made cider, home-made rhubarb jam, local honey, chouchenn (mead), apple juice and a range of sweet treats.

An unforgettable plunge into the world's oceans.

The fantastic journey provided by the Grand Aquarium is an attraction not to be missed in Saint-Malo. With its spectacular tanks and cutting-edge displays, the aquarium offers a captivating insight into the rich worlds to be found under the sea. Discover an astonishing 600 species!
Follow the direction of the visit, from the cold oceans of the north to tropical seas, via sharks in the 360° tank, to the mysterious denizens of the sunken galleon and brightly-coloured tropical species.
Enjoy the unique experience of undersea exploring in the Nautilus submarine.

Where kids are treated like royalty!

Parents and children all want their holidays together to be a success and a source of unforgettable happy memories.

A family holiday resort must be in a position to offer absolutely everything to make that possible: suitable accommodation for families, activities to suit different ages, fun and entertainment for all, and a wide range of facilities in an environment that must be not only attractive (naturally!) but also safe.
Station Kid resorts, in association with the Ministry for Tourism which supports the association's projects, are committed to this vision, and have agreed to a strict charter with six key checkpoints : welcome, facilities, events and entertainment, activities, environment and safety.
Communes which qualify receive the award for a period of three years. The award is made only to communes that pursue a real policy of welcoming children aged between 3 and 12 and their families.

As a result, everything is in place to ensure that children have a fantastic time with their parents, who can feel relaxed and secure.
On the programme: sports, walks, fun learning activities, games and competitions and shows for all the family to enjoy.

Fun and relaxation!

Pony rides, lessons by the hour or courses, preparation for federation examinations, voltige, driving and outings, trekking: a whole range of horse-riding activities for all ages and all levels: equestrians, push your limits; beginners, enjoy a new experience!
Walks through the countryside and on the beaches, through a landscape of a thousand secrets.

The wonderful world of shells.

The Maison du Littoral, which stands at the heart of this natural site looking out to the Pors Kamor lighthouse, offers an insight into the Côte de Granit Rose through its exhibitions and explanations of nature.
For children: workshops to learn how to tie sailors' knots, a "touch and learn" house full of minerals and a light-table display on local flora.
There is also a model explaining place names along the channel leading to Ploumanac'h harbour.

Retrace the history of art.

Like most of France's museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes dates from the Revolution. Founded in 1794 with works confiscated from the town's religious and civil buildings, the museum nonetheless owes the bulk of its collections to the magnificent "cabinet of curiosities" of Christophe-Paul de Robien (1698-1756), President of the Breton Parliament.
From La Femme entre les deux âges (16th century) by Saint-Luc de Heemskerck to contemporary art, the museum also houses an Egyptian archaeological collection (bronzes, ceramics, etc.), an exceptional collection of drawings, and a collection of engravings.

The contemporary art collection focuses on two main areas: artists with Breton roots, such as the Affichistes, and the various currents in abstract art from Sam Francis to Aurélie Nemours.

Museum and laboratory.

The Marinarium in Concarneau is a laboratory museum, exhibiting the work of researchers in the fields of marine life, the environment and marine resources.
The marinarium is housed in the world's oldest marine research station, built in 1859, which still features the original vivariums. The exhibition now on display recounts the scientific adventure of exploring the world of the sea: the first experiments in marine aquaculture, the identification of the many organisms that make up plankton, the discovery of potentially therapeutic compounds or new species of fish. The oceans cover two thirds of the total surface area of the Earth. Estimates suggest that the diversity of life forms in this ocean world is between 1,000 to 10,000 times greater than on land!

Go walking in the woods...

In the centre of Tréveneuc, leave your car in the main square.
Admire the town hall, its turret tower giving it the air of a small castle, and the 17th and 18th century church.
Much of the construction of the church was the work of local craftsmen over a ten-year period (1743 to 1754).
Walk past the fornt of the church and leave the town, admiring on your left the lovely facade of the Château de Pommorio (under construction in 1789).
The château and grounds are privately owned and not open to the public.
Near Perhemeno, head for the beach of Le Palus by a track through the woods.
Before reaching the beach, turn right onto the coastal path recently reopened along the cliff tops, which will take you to the beach at Port-Goret (picnic tables), then on to the Pointe du Bec de Vir (orientation table and outstanding view over the Bay of Saint-Brieuc from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel), and finally to Saint-Marc's cove.
The cove offers moorings (for 50 boats), an oyster-farm (buy your oysters here) and the famous 18th century chapel.
Follow the road and then a series of tracks to a high point for a panoramic view over Tréveneuc, the sea and Kertugal in Saint-Quay-Portrieux.
The sunken lanes, reopened for walkers, offer a sight of agricultural activities, and the Mauretour Calvary.
Continue through the woods of Plouha into Kerdrape.

A wildfowl reserve.

Off Perros-Guirec, the archipelago of the Sept Iles (seven islands) makes up the largest wildfowl reserve in France.
The archipelago is home to 27 species of nesting bird including 13 species of sea bird, making a total of over 20,000 nesting pairs.

The seven islands are Rouzic, Malban, les Costans, Bono, l'Ile-aux-Moines, l'Ile-Plate and Le Cerf.
This group of rocky islets has been a protected site since 1912 and was designated a nature reserve in 1977.
Imagine hundreds of Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, European Shags, Razorbills, Common Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, Great Black-backed gulls, Herring gulls and Lesser Black-backed gulls nesting in hollows in the rocks.
The island of Rouzic is home to France's only colony of Northern Gannets.

Shop inside an architectural masterpiece.

Architect Jean-Baptiste Martenot was responsible for the two market halls in the Place des Lices.
The two constructions are the very quintessence of 19th century metallic architecture.

They lend themselves perfectly to exhibitions as well as to events like the Marché des Lices, recognised as the 3rd biggest market in France.

To your bagpipes!

Ty Anna Tavern welcomes you to its Breton den for a session of local music.
Amateur and professional artists play Celtic music every Wednesday in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. A good night out is on the cards.

Join the Thursday night skate-in in Rennes!

Beginners, professionals or amateurs, strap on your roller-skates for a night-time ride through the streets of Rennes. The perfect combination of exercise and fun!
Zip through the city with a huge crowd of like-minded skaters, and share in the dynamic, friendly atmosphere.
Watch out for the first drops of rain, though; the evening is cancelled in the event of rain.

Inspired by a learned Scotsman.

The museum's earliest collections are owed to a learned Scotsman by the name of James Miln.
The furniture and the archaeological treasures discovered at Carnac are for the most part presented in the Musée de la Préhistoire.
Visitors will follow the adventures of mankind from the Old Stone Age (450,000 years ago) to the Gallo-Roman period (4th century B.C.), by way of the Neolithic period when the megaliths were erected. A total of 6,600 exhibits are on display.

A fine church organ into the bargain.

The church of Saint-Rémi was first built in 1778, then rebuilt in 1930 after suffering damage. It was at the time of its reconstruction that it was consecrated to Saint Remi. Consisting mainly of a broad nave and a square sanctuary, the church is remarkable for a number of ancient paintings and statues, but more particularly for its modern stained-glass windows. These represent the battle of Camaret and also the defeat of the English at Trez Rouz.

Follow in the footsteps of a great explorer.

The museum, dedicated to Jacques Cartier, retraces the life and times of its former owner: his everyday life and his great expeditions.
It is housed in the Manoir de Limoëlou, in the Rothéneuf quarter, a building considered to be the ancestor of the malouinières, the mansions built by the shipping magnates of Saint-Malo.

A writer's whole life in this house.

Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was born in a late 16th century/early 17th century half-timbered Breton house. The street front facade is two storeys high and corbelled.
While the author spent only the first fifteen years of his life here, he never parted with the house and continued to spend his holidays here.

The interior has been designed to recreate the presence of Renan as a child, as a teenager and as a famous writer: it contains the room where he was born, with its granite fireplace and box-bed, the schoolboy's room under the eaves with a little desk, and also a reconstitution of Renan's study at the Collège de France.

Between land and sea.

Just 10 minutes from the beaches of the Côte d'Emeraude, on the banks of the River 'Arguenon, the "pretty village" referred to by Chateaubriand has become a lively and attractive town, famous for its mineral water.
Minerals and literature are not the whole of it: there is history, too, in the 19th century church of Saint-Sauveur, harmonious neo-Romanesque building.
The church is dedicated to Saint Sauveur, even though the patron saint of the parish is Saint Florian.
As you make your way through the narrow lanes, note the 16th century half-timbered and encorbelled house.

Between land and sea.

This magnificent path follows the steep coastal cliffs to explore the coastline and the magnificent turn of the century mansions such as the orientally inspired "Kermoor", before intersecting with the GR 34 footpath for a distance of 5.5km along the coast, on land belonging to the commune.
Le Portrieux, where the first infrastructure work on the bay was carried out, saw the first schooners setting off for the Newfoundland fishing grounds in 1612.
Wallk along Portrieux beach to the roundabout and take the steps that lead up to a magnificent panoramic view of the Port d'Armor, the only deepwater harbour between Cherbourg and Brest, and also over La Comtesse beach and the island of the same name, accessible on foot at low tide.
At the Pointe du Sémaphore, the orientation table identifies key landmarks out to sea, from Bréhat to Cap Fréhel, with an overview of: the plateau of the Iles Saint-Quay, 10km long and 3km wide, as well as Ile Harbour, easily recognised by its house and lighthouse.
Continue along the beaches of Châtelet, Casino and La Grève Noire, the Pointe de l'Isnain and the Grève Gicquel beneath the rock of Gerbot d'Avoine, then the Saint-Quay fountain commemorating the arrival of the evangelising saint, and on to the Pointe du Romeur marking the limit between the communes of Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Tréveneuc.
View over the cove of Saint-Marc and the 18th century chapel.

Centuries of light.

Opened in June 2005, the museum's new presentation of its permanent collections of paintings offers a new outlook on the works of the 19th and 20th centuries.
For the most part, these are landscapes whose common feature is an attempt to grasp rhythm, colour and light and fix this impalpable illusion on canvas.
In the 19th century, painters began experimenting with outdoor painting.
Little by little, light begins to dissolve the subject and lead towards abstraction.
This progress towards modernity can be traced through the works of Elodie La Villette, Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet, Jean Le Moal and Geneviève Asse.

Go green.

At the very heart of the Côte de Granit Rose, in the communes of Trégastel and Perros-Guirec, the Traouïero are two deep valleys: the Grand and the Petit Traouïero, through each of which runs a stream that ends its course in the natural harbour of Ploumanac'h.
A network of signposted paths pionts the way through this designated Breton natural heritage site.

Over 2,000 years of history...

Corseul is the oldest town in the département. Founded in around the year 10 B.C., capital of the Coriosoliti, an Armorican tribe, Corseul offers an introduction to Gallo-Roman civilisation in Armorica through some of its ancient remains.
1.5km from the centre, on the Dinan road, an ancient wall some ten metres high bears witness to Courseul's importance in remote times.
Before this wall of the cella, the room in which the stature of the divinity used to stand, there once stretched a vast expanse of buildings, covering over a hectare and surrounding a vast closed courtyard where the faithful come to pray at the temple would gather.
Mars was probably the deity worshipped in this sanctuary but no inscription has been discovered that would provide absolute proof.

As you will see, the ancient town of Fanum Martis (Corseul) was organised around a network of streets covering over 100 hectares, crossing at right angles and delineating quarters, each with its own activity: urban dwellings, shops and businesses, temples, baths, etc. Near the present-day town hall, archaeologists have unearthed an entire commercial complex in the main street of the town, lined by a gallery of porticoes. The site, which goes by the name of Monterfil, has now been reconstructed.

Visit the Château de Quintin and its permanent collections.

Two chateaux for the price of one in the same park, in the centre of the characterful town of Quintin. An unfinished 17th century chateau, listed as an historic monument, and an 18th century chateau, also listed.
The base of the 17th century chateau, the richly furnished apartments of the 18th century chateau, the former kitchens (including a granite kitchen-garden of extraordinary size), the permanent collections of china, glassware, silverware, trinkets, christening robes and fans are open all year round.

Try out an organic market with 100% natural produce.

As you stroll around the Sainte-Thérèse quarter, try some of the organic products for their quality and taste.

The Sainte-Thérèse market is sure to be selling its famous artichokes and cauliflowers and maybe even the famous Coco de Paimpol white beans.

Birthplace of Chateaubriand.

Bourseul, a tiny commune between Plancoët and Jugon-Les-Lacs, is where Appoline de Bédée and René Auguste de Chateaubriand, parents of the famous French writer François René de Chateaubriand, were married and lived for some years at the Manoir de la Boitardais.
Here you may visit Le Moulin du Pont Loyer: living witness to the crafts of the past, the mill is powered by the waters of the River Arguenon.
400 metres upstream, a mill pond was created by building a small dam some 25 metres long with a set of sluices adding another 5 metres or so. The mill pond supplied water to the mill by diverting water from the river into an artificial channel known as a mill race (bief, in French).
A little further on, the Château de Beaubois, restored and largely rebuilt in the 19th century, and its grounds make an authentic setting well worth a visit.
Through the grounds of some 200 hectares there runs a Roman road. The private chapel of Our Lady at Beaubois, built between 1886 and 1888 and consecrated on 16 September 1890, can be seen from the road that runs nearby.

Attacking the Tour Solidor!

The Solidor Tower at Saint-Servan houses the Saint-Malo Museum's collection on this theme.
Numerous models, ship's instruments and objects, made by mariners during their long voyages or brought back as souvenirs of distant shores, fire the imagination with images of extraordinary voyages on the great sailing ships of the late 19th and early 20th century that carried cargoes of nitrates from Chile, wood and grain from California or Australia, nickel from New Caledonia, etc.

The "Solidor Tower" is in fact a fortified structure that originally consisted of a small guard-tower, the existing bastion which incorporates sections of Gallo-Roman masonry, and the three towers connected by curtain walls to the main body of the fortress.
Work on building the fortified keep began between 1369 and 1382, on the orders of Duke Jean IV of Brittany as a means of controlling the town of Saint-Malo, recalcitrant to his authority.

Place Charles de Gaulle: before and after.

You can admire this exhibition for the whole duration of the renovation period. This outdoor exhibit is dedicated to the historical evolution of the place Charles de Gaulle, but also to the soon-to-be renovated esplanade signed urban planner Nicolas Michelin.

You might be interested to know that this major square had four different names since its foundation, or that it was actually bombed during World War II.

The six display panels will showcase the various renovations projects for the esplanade which will become a huge entertainment centre with a multi-screen cinema, underground parking lot, a completely renovated Liberté, a Youth Centre and a Welcoming Centre for students and foreign academics.

Let the magic of the place do its work.

A coastline of contrasts and harmony, the Côte de Granit Rose runs from Trébeurden to Perros-Guirec.
The coppery-pink hue of its granite, the depth of colours in the ever-changing ocean and the magic of the scenery make this an extraordinary stretch of coastline.
The sea seems to orchestrate a symphony of colours; it carves the outlines of the shore and carries you away with its wild beauty through a history and a culture anchored deep in men's souls. The Ploumanac'h lighthouse, standing out at sea surrounded by standing stones and menhirs, will light your way as you go.

A striking symbol of Binic as it once was.

Along the busy quays, stroll through the market among a relaxed, easygoing crowd. A vivid market, with plenty of local colour on its picturesque stalls.
In season, anything up to 200 market traders are to be found here on a Thursday morning, selling regional specialities and fresh produce.
In addition to its picturesque side, the market is also a centuries-old setting for trade.
Since the 16th century, its strategic position and maritime history have made Binic a byword in the history of fairs and markets.
Goods of all sorts would once have been on sale here: the products of sea and land, of trade and merchant shipping.
Several fairs were held at a fixed date each year.
As early as the Revolutionary period, Binic market was always held on a Thursday morning.
At the same time, Binic became one of France's leading fishing ports.
Beyond a doubt, the market is a favourite meeting-place for the people of Binic, but also for all those who like to stroll around the market stalls.

Monumental granite sculptures.

François Breton has been creating monumental sculptures for almost 15 years. He splits the stone with a punch and leaves the rough form as it stands.
Then he hacks away with a spike until a human form begins to emerge, and this gives rise to the Ankou.
He is undoubtedly expressing a pitiful and highly contemporary vision of human nature: torturing and tortured.
Painter, fresco painter, decorator, restorer of old manor houses or stone-carver, the artist uses any and every pretext for creation.
His works inclulde a totem representing the Great Bear or Big Dipper, the constellation that guided the sailors of Saint-Malo to the New World, a sculpture with presence detectors that replays an acoustic and visual memory of the visitor, images of combats between man and the superior forces of nature.

All these works are created in the hope that the viewer will derive as much pleasure from them as the artists did from making them.

Salsa style.

Most people think salsa means Cuba.
The roots of salsa are, in fact, more cosmopolitan. Salsa is a music and dance movement, Cuban and Caribbean in origin, that grew up in New York amongst the Porto Ricans, one of the most disadvantaged groups in the US between the 1920s and the 1960s.
A far cry from the folklore surrounding it today, salsa is above all else a form of sharing. Sharing senses and emotions, words and music, dance and bodies. If you let the Afro-Cuban rhythms get to you, you might just find yourself forgetting your steps!
Sip on a mojito, cuba libre or caipirinha, enjoy a refreshing tropical fruit juice, and let yourself dance.

History and heritage at your feet.

Take the Sentier des Douaniers footpath to begin the circuit along Casino beach, la Grève noire, la Grève de l'Isnain, until you come to Rue de la Source, which you follow up to the Saint-Quay fountain.
Take a right along the Boulevard du Littoral, then left along the Rue des Grèves.
At the roundabout, take a right along Rue Pierre-Loti, then immediately left into Rue Théodore Botrel; continue until you reach Rue des Landes.
Turning right, you will come upon the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde then double back down the Rue des Landes to the D 786 road (be very careful when crossing) and follow Rue de la Garenne to the crossroads: turn left and you will reach the Moulin Saint-Michel, with a magnificent view over Saint-Quay Portrieux and the whole of the bay.
From Rue du Tertre-Breton, after a few steps, go down Rue de la Fontaine and turn right into Rue des Banches. Take a left onto the GR 34 footpath: continue to the Château de Calan (now the KerMoor Hotel) and its oriental style, and the "Viking" memorial stone.

Stones ancient beyond belief.

Dating from some 6,000 years ago, the megalithic site at Carnac is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe. Around 3,000 menhirs (standing stones) are aligned over an area of 40 hectares and a distance of 4 kilometres.
The Kermario, Le Menec, Kerlescan and Petit Menec (La Trinité-sur-Mer) alignments, which together form the Carnac site, represent one of the first monumental stone structures in Europe.
Plans are under way to redevelop the site to improve facilities for visitors, to enhance the landscaping and architectural qualities of the site and, by creating pedestrian and cycle paths, to open up new ways of visiting the monument.

Ideal for walkers.

The valley of the Arguenon makes Plorec-sur-Arguenon and Pléven favourite centres for lovers of walking, fishing and countryside holidays.
A number of footpaths have been marked out along the lake of La Ville Hatte, leading through varied landscapes.
Admire the dam, built in 1973, retaining some 12 million cubic metres of water.
The lake is 17km long, and extends to the commune of Jugon-les-Lacs.
The dam supplies water to around fifteen water towers, providing drinking water for many of the communes in the region.
In the church of Saint-Pierre, note the extremely fine 15th century font and the recumbent figure of a lady of Plorec.
Also of note is the polychrome wood statue of Saint Roch, dating from the 16th century.

Natural local flavours!

Quimper, one of the key towns of Finistère, offers a splendid range of markets.
Connoisseurs of Breton produce will appreciate the best of Brittany's vegetables like the cauliflower, as well as salty Breton caramels for those with a sweet tooth...

History or gardening?

At the gateway to Dinan, the small commune of Languenan lies at the extreme eastern end of the Val d'Arguenon.
Les Jardins Associatifs, a magnet for all keen gardeners, is a vast educational project that seeks to encourage children into closer contact with nature.
In the choir of the church of Saint-Jacques, built in 1846, note the heavily-worked Baroque high altar and the gilded wooden baldaquin, both listed as historic monuments in 1969.

See also the 18th century polychrome wooden statues representing Saint Anne, Saint Jacques and the Virgin Mary.

Perfect for an aperitif or a digestif!

Once you climb the nine steps leading up to this building dating from 1737, you'll find yourself in one of Rennes' cosiest bars. Every attention has been paid to the decoration for a slightly Latino setting, with Louis XVI armchairs and exposed beams against deep red walls.
Every day a different cocktail is on offer, often based on jam or fresh fruit, but you can also choose from the list of Cuban cocktails that are a speciality of the house: mojito and pina colada. There is a special themed evening every month, with a different theme every time, but the prevailing musical style is electro.

Swing like a pro!

A matter of minutes from the beaches of Saint-Quay-Portrieux, the Ajoncs d'Or golf-course successfully accommodates players of all levels.
The "leisure" golfer is guaranteed a good game; the more experienced golfer keen to take on the technical challenge of the course is advised to bring out some top shots!

Compact course, golf lessons, equipment hire, pro-shop: everything is on hand to help you get the best out of this 18-hole course.

Rural history for the cityfolk…

The agricultural tour provided by the Ecomusée du Pays de Rennes is an introduction to the history of Breton farming. As you make your way along, take the opportunity to admire the plant collections and learn about which crops were farmed over the centuries, which are obsolete, and which are mass-produced today. One of the aims of the museum and this guided tour is to ensure the survival of certain plant species.

The orchard, where over a hundred apple varieties are grown, is particularly impressive.