2 THE WEEK GUERNSEY PRESS Saturday 29 July 2017 Saturday 29 July 2017 GUERNSEY PRESS THE WEEK 3

Fancy a week away with some exploring thrown in? Brittany is right Brittany on our doorstep, says Jessamy on Baldwin. Just pack up the car wheels and get set for a road trip...

First port of call: St Malo is only a ferry ride away. Rochefort-en-terre has been named one of France’s most beautiful villages.

‘With its own language and ROISSANTS, wine, duck and berets a long history – what’s not to like about France? Well, perhaps the berets, but I digress. We often forget just how close it is. of intriguing On clear days its coastline can be glimpsed but many of us take its traditions, Cproximity for granted. People from across the globe travel far and wide to experience the lavender fields of Provence, Brittany has the romance of Paris and the peace of the Dordogne. But after just a couple of hours of always been ferry travel to St Malo we can be right in the thick of things. If you’re after a last-minute holiday without the hassle of airports or one of the additional travel fees, this one’s for you. With its own language and a long history of most distinctive intriguing traditions, Brittany has always been one of the most distinctive and best- and best-loved loved regions in France. From its rich Celtic heritage and tasty cidre to the striking stone monuments from early human settlement regions in and magical forests of Arthurian legend, the region radiates an ancient, mysterious and France’ relaxing aura.

St Malo the turreted Château de and bars where you can Iles de Glenan: this beautiful archipelago is accessible only in summer. Comper near Concoret, sit back and watch the If you’re catching which houses the hustle and bustle. the ferry, spend a Centre de l’Imaginaire Often there are ancient day wandering the Arthurien where you boats tied up at the cobbled streets, can discover scenes quayside, adding a stop at a café Above: The medieval town of Dinan on the River Rance. from Arthurian legends. dash of nostalgia to any or street stall (Pictures: Shutterstock) In summer there are day spent in the area. for a molten interesting exhibitions, From June to September, galette jambon Forest and The river, now canalised with locks and a events and themed walks. visitors can take a boat fromage, watch fairytale towpath, is great for lazy walks, boat rides and Next to the castle is a lake, ride from here around the the sunset from castle: bike rides. I highly recommend renting a small underneath whose waters little islands in the Gulf of the ramparts Paimpont boat for the day and cruising along the river apparently lives the fairy Viviane Morbihan. If you’re in town on and enjoy a crisp is a must- with a picnic. If you’re hungry, set yourself in a crystal palace built by Merlin the a Monday, you’re in luck. A vibrant, glass of rose as see. up at one of the restaurants at the port. Les magician. colourful market takes place, spilling out from you people-watch. Terrasses is fab, with a river-front terrace. To go the town centre and filling the streets with lush The town also boasts local, sip on a cidre – cider served in bowls. produce. a number of pleasant For the best Rochefort-en-terre beaches if you fancy town view, walk getting sandy-toed, and an past Dinan’s basilica Paimpont Located in Brittany’s western Morbihan region, Carnac extremely large selection of to St Catherine’s Rochefort-en-Terre has been named one of restaurants, appropriately focused tower. From here you enjoy If you’re into enchanted lakes, myths and France’s most beautiful villages. High above Ten miles from Auray is unmissable Carnac on seafood. stunning views of the old port and castles, Paimpont is a must-see. Surrounded the River Arz, the village grew in fame after (Garnag in Breton), the mysterious megalithic the River Rance. Perfect for Instagram lovers. by an ancient forest, it’s the perfect stepping- American painter Alfred Klotz bought and must-see. The sheer number of ancient sites Or walk along the 2.7km long ramparts (oldest off point to explore the 25 square miles of renovated the town’s medieval château in 1907. found in the vicinity make Carnac the world’s Dinan in Brittany) to get an unparalleled look at the legendary woodland known as Brocéliande He also encouraged the display of flowers in greatest concentration of megalithic sites. town below. Check out Crêperie Ahna – run – supposedly home to King Arthur and the the town, a tradition that continues to this day Check out the 3,000 chunks of granite From St Malo, take the short drive to Dinan by the same family for four generations and wizard Merlin. Take a walk along one of the and enhances the charm of the village’s half- (menhirs) that were hewn from local rock in – a charming riverside town, full of medieval known as one of the best in town. Every other many trails that lead from the town into the timbered buildings and Renaissance stone. The 4000BC and still stand in rows that stretch for history and topped off with a castle dating back year, if you’re there in late July, you’ll catch forest. town’s church, Notre-Dame-de-la-Tronchaye, miles. The pretty town is divided into Carnac- Unmissable Carnac, the mystical megalithic must-see. to 1382. Meander through pretty streets and the Fête des Remparts (the next is in 2018). For those more interested in historical sites, the is located on a hillside and steeped in a long Ville, an old stone village with a historical between half-timbered houses before climbing No fewer than 100,000 visitors join Dinannais town’s abbey, dating back to 1199, was built on legendary past, dating originally from the 12th 17th-century church and the artefact-laden the 158 steps of the Tour de l’Horlage clock townsfolk dressed in medieval garb for the two- the sacred site of a 7th-century monastery and century. Museum of Prehistory, and Carnac-Plages, an tower. day festival. sits on a stunning lakeside location. Also visit As you’d expect from a little town full of attractive seaside resort on Quiberon Bay, with character with an arty history, the streets are an enticing 2km long sandy beach. dotted with artists and craftspeople. Don’t leave WIN TICKETS TO ST MALO town without visiting one of the artisan biscuit makers like Le Rucher Fleuri in Rue du Porche, Îles de Glénan WITH CONDOR FERRIES which is highly regarded throughout the region for its pain d’épices. Whichever shop you visit, This archipelago of beautiful islands about E’VE got together with Condor look upwards – Rochefort is known for its 10 miles off the south coast of Finistère is WFerries to offer a return trip to St unusual and colourful signs. accessible only in summer and best-known Malo for a car plus two people. With About a mile outside the town is the Moulin for sailing and diving schools and for having frequent sailings to the French port, August. Neuf, a lakeside complex, where you’ll find a unique indigenous flower, Glénan narcissus. the winner can travel up to the end Winners will be notified by the a supervised beach in summer as well as The photogenic archipelago is made up of nine of October, allowing plenty of time to Guernsey Press, and bookings activities including tennis, fishing, cycling and main islands and many islets, in the middle of plan that Breton road trip. For your made through Condor’s marketing paths for walkers. which is a lagoon renowned for the clarity of chance to win, call our competition department. its water and the whiteness of its sands – in line, 240241, or email competitions@ Travel is to be completed by 31 fact, the area has been described as ‘the Breton guernseypress.com leaving your name, October 2017 and is subject to Auray Tahiti’. contact details and the answer to this availability and Condor Ferries’ There are daily ferries in season from Loctudy, question: standard terms and conditions. Utterly charming, with its cobbled streets and Bénodet, Concarneau and Beg-Meil. The boats historic half-timbered houses, Auray is where arrive at the main island, Saint Nicolas, where Which village has been named the u For more on Condor Ferries’ you should head next. The 600-year-old harbour you’ll find a couple of restaurants as well as most beautiful in Brittany? services and to view timetables, (Saint-Goustan) is particularly picturesque the international diving school and France’s Competition closes on Wednesday 2 go to www.condorferries.co.uk Auray is utterly charming. exploring Britanny exploring and there’s an abundance of restaurants, cafés smallest nature reserve.