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Welcome back to Brittany, land of saints and legends, where every baby is said to be born with the waters of the sea flowing around its heart! We have chosen to explore the true Breton heartland, Finistère, from the comfort of the Hotel Océan, privately owned and meticulously run by Monsieur and Madame Henaff. Set on the seafront, just outside Concarneau, the hotel offers delightful rooms, a terrace with swimming pool and a seaview restaurant. Our excursion programme is infinitely varied to embellish this springtime holiday, mingling terre et mer with lightness of touch, the Armor with the Argoat, each with its Celtic charm. The fervent piety of the Bretons is reflected in the strange beauty of their parish closes, their love affair with the sea in the quaint fishing-ports and their Arthurian mysticism is everywhere in evidence. We have not forgotten the sheer pleasure of just sitting by the sea and there is ample time at leisure.
This ten-day holiday includes:
• nine nights half-board in a double, twin or single room (single supplement £170).
• all coach and ferry travel.
• two lunches, all excursions and the services of a courier throughout.
Cost: £985
Specialist guide services, tasting and admission charges are not included in the holiday price.
ITINERARY
MONDAY
Depart Bristol at 7.30am for the drive via London (Waterloo) to Dover and the lunchtime ferry to Calais. Afternoon drive to Rouen for dinner and overnight at the comfortable 3*** Hotel Bertelière.
TUESDAY
Leave after breakfast for the scenic drive down via Avranches to lunch provided in Josselin. This afternoon, time at leisure in Ste-Anne-d'Auray, the most important pilgrimage site in Brittany. Visit the basilica, treasury and perhaps the impressive memorial to the 250,000 Breton soldiers and sailors who fell in the Great War. Late afternoon we arrive in Concarneau and book into our holiday centre, the 3*** Hotel de l'Océan on the Plage des Sables Blancs, facing the sea. Well-appointed and personally supervised by M. and Mme Hénaff, the hotel has a fine outdoor pool.
WEDNESDAY
Morning in Locronan, place of Saint Ronan, with its great square bordered with fine granite Renaissance houses. Visit its 15th century church, containing a wonderful pulpit, original stained glass and the raised tomb of the saint. It's said to be good luck to crawl under it (but only if you're 'fit and active'!). Restaurant lunch provided at the Horseshoe Inn on the square. Continue via Audierne to end the day at the Pointe du Raz where, at the very tip of Cornouaille, you can stand and marvel at the steep cliffs, the dashing waves and a chain of reefs stretching out to the lighthouse beyond. This is the essence of Finistère, the 'end of the land'.
THURSDAY
After a leisurely breakfast leave to spend the morning in Pont-Aven, famous for its school of painting led by Gauguin. Time to stroll along the quays of the Aven river, to explore the Bois d'Amour, a romantic woodland that continues to inspire many an artist. A fine museum houses paintings of the Pont-Aven school. Return to Concarneau for lunch at leisure and afternoon free to discover the new town and the old walled city in the harbour with its exhibitions, craft shops and fine sea views.
FRIDAY
Every day reveals a different facet of this fascinating duchy and we spend the morning marvelling at the skill of potters and artists at the Henriot pottery in Quimper. Traditional designs are transferred or hand-painted on to hundreds of items of eminently collectable tableware. There is an opportunity to buy. Lunch at leisure in the town of Quimper across the Odet river which we shall be exploring later in the holiday. Continue to the oldest calvary in Brittany, Notre-Dame-de-Tronoën, stark and windswept among the dunes. Dating from the 15th century it displays every feature of this traditional art-form. We then head for the coast just in time to watch the return of the fishing-boats and the landing of the day's catch at Le Guilvinec. An exciting spectacle as, at a given signal, the bobbing boats race each other into harbour to be first at the auction! Return to hotel.
SATURDAY
Return to Quimper today, the ancient capital. There is time to visit the beautiful cathedral whose lacy spires soar to Heaven, the regional folk museum and the fine shops. After lunch we take a leisurely boat trip down the Odet to Benodet to relax in this picturesque resort. Meet up with the coach to return to hotel.
SUNDAY
A day exploring the ever-changing beauty of the Crozon peninsula, wild rocks and promontories pounded by the crashing waves. The sandy coves and quiet beaches of the Camaret area provide a thrilling contrast. Lunchtime at leisure overlooking a fine sheltered harbour dominated by the Sillon, a natural dyke with a 17th century castle fortified by Vauban. Our day of scenic surprises continues as we visit the rugged Pointe de Penhir and the gentler vista of the Pointe des Espagnols with views across the estuary to Brest. Return to Concarneau.
MONDAY
Leave after breakfast for a day in the Argoat, the Breton interior, its chequerboard of fields bright beneath wide skies and its open moorlands glowing with lichen and heather. Morning stop by the lake at Huelgoat before continuing to Morlaix for lunch at leisure. Sit and admire the immense viaduct and harbour. A feast of very different architectural delights awaits you this afternoon as you rejoin the coach to learn about the ‘enclos paroissiaux’. We visit the finest 17th century parish closes, each one proudly displaying its highly-decorated church with colourful carved figures, its calvary, ossuary, belfry and triumphal arch, all enclosed within a granite wall. A splendid witness to the pride and religious fervour of this Celtic people.
TUESDAY
Bid farewell to Concarneau today and drive to Dinan for late morning and lunch at leisure. This picturesque old town is the birthplace of Du Guesclin. Early afternoon we leave to travel to Rouen where we overnight at the 3***Novotel in Quevilly, Rouen.
WEDNESDAY
We leave Rouen and drive to catch the lunchtime ferry from Calais to Dover. Return via London to Bristol, arriving there early evening. |
