Brittany is well known for its walk routes and large and quiet beaches. Brittany is also the region where its old culture is still present in daily life.
Activities
To eat and drink
Crepes are Brittany’s fish and chips. But there is much more. Near Maison Boelvern you can find a variety of gastronomic tastes.
In low season you can also choose to have dinner “at home” and enjoy our tables d’hotes.
L’auberge des Glazicks, Plomodiern / 10 mins
This restaurant serves high quality lunches and dinners at a reasonable price. In 2010 Olivier Bellin, the owner, earned his second Michelin Star. Today the quality of the food is still the same. You can book at: http://www.aubergedesglaziek.com/fr/
Of course we can book for you.
Ar Maen Hir, Locronan / 15 mins
Locronan itself it worth the visit, but even better in combination with this lovely restaurant.
You can have a look at the menu and book at: https://ar-maen-hir.business.site
Of course we can book for you.
Restaurant L’Oasis
Also at the beach and with splendid views on the ocean. Enjoy a night out, start with cocktails and enjoy the nice food.
Let us make a reservation for you.
Manoir de Moelien
Go back in time in this old manoir which offers a large stone dining room with fire place and tradional French food. Service and wines are good.
Crêperie de Mme Gourlan, Plonevez Porzay / 10 mins
This crêperie is worth mentioning. Since 30 years Anne-Marie Gourlan and Chantal bake 100 crêpes a day. The restaurant is always crowded, locals appreciate the food. The interior is typically Breton as is cider to accompany your food.. You can have dinner here or take away your crêpes. There is no website, but we can book for you.
Festivals and events
Meet original Brittany
Throughout the year several Breton events are organized. Because there is so much to do we refer to the website of the Breton Tourist Information.
Visit our Facebook for events. We prefer to inform you during your stay at Maison Boulvern.
Cultural heritage
The Breton language is alive. Folk music and folk dance are often performed, especially on cultural feasts. This will certainly add value to your visit.
QUIMPER CORNNOUAILLE
Locronan
This is an old and picturesque little town. It is one of the rare examples of historic preservation. Take a walk here and enjoy the beautiful granite houses surrounded by a wonderful landscape.
Quimper
This mediaeval town with its many lanes is a pleasure to visit. The food is good. You can go to museums of which the Museum of Visual Arts is the finest. It houses one of the richest art collections in Brittany.
Riec-sur-Belon
Oysters, fresh from the water. What else could you want…
You can take a stroll along the rocky coast and enjoy the views, your feet in the sea water, eat oysters that are known for their hazelnut taste.
Douarnenez
This fishing port has 4 harbours, each of them with their unique character and history. In the streets behind the bay you will find studios and old fishermen’s houses. At the quays fishermen and other locals meet at the end of the day in the various bars and restaurants. You could join them to conclude your visit.
Concarneau
Concarneau is known for its old fortress and its illustrious bays. In Breton the name means ‘Bay of Cornwell’. Inside the walls of the fortress is a small town where you can dwell through the lanes and visit the fishermen’s museum.
Outside the fortress you can enjoy the harbour and the bays.
The gothic Chateau de Keriolet is a nice mixture of history and architecture. Guides can lead you through this chateau and tell the history of this place.
There are plenty of places where you can eat and drink. For instance you can try the fruit-de-mer or one of the tasty crepe dishes.
Pont-Aven
This is a small town near Concarneau. It is known for the painters who worked here. One of them was Gauguin. He ran an academy of arts here. The school was situated in Pont-Aven because of the village beauty.
There is a marked walk, Xavier-Grall that leads you to and from the outskirts of the place by means of hidden footbridges, dams and locks.
Doëlan
People call it the pearl of the south coast, because of its scenic harbour and surroundings. On your way to Doëlan you can enjoy the route that takes you along the cliffs and wide views.
Névez
This small peninsula lies between Pont-Aven and Concarneau. In this area you find villages with characteristic houses, pretty beaches and harbours. The GR34 track runs through this area.
Benodet and Sainte-Marine (Bigouden)
The Bigouden lie in the south west of Brittany. The river Odet connects the two places. In high season you can take the pedestrian ferry from Benodet to Saint-Marine which is known for its fauna. A visit to his village and its scenic harbour is certainly worthwhile.
Pointe de la Torche
This is a peninsula in the centre of the Bigouden. It is known for its tulips in spring and popular among surfers and walkers. Here you can visit places of megalithic (stone age) origin.
The enchanting archipelago of Glénan
near Concarneau you find this archipelago consisting of 7 small islands. The white beaches and blue sea make you feel to be in tropical resorts. During the summer months it is possible to visit Glénan. You can go to Saint-Nicolas by boat from Bénodet, Concarneau, Loctudy, Pors-la-Forêt and Beg Meil. You can make a walk around this island and you can go to the top to have a 365 view on the sea.
Les roches du Diable
This place offers splendid walks and there is a legend to tell:
Guénolé wanted to bring the Gospel here. To do this he was forced a pact with the Devil. He was allowed to build a bridge to reach the people he wanted to rescue from the Devil. But the first to cross the bridge would be for the Devil. Guénolé sent a squirrel to be the first. In his rage the Devil created a yawning gulf under the bridge which of course you can witness today.[G1]
BREST TERRES OCÉANES
The “abers” of legends
A rough coast, green land and majestic lighthouses. At this river mouth you find several small islands where you can surf and walk. Here are the most lighthouses of all Brittany. After dark they make a spectacular view. During the day you can climb the lighthouse of île Vierge to admire the view.
Camaret-sur-Mer
The harbour of Camaret is a nice place to visit. Here are several cosy restaurants. It is a colourful place.
In the surroundings you find pretty beaches, and you can walk around Cap de la Chevre. This is the place where the mysterious menhirs stand.
Landerneau
In this town you find many monuments. One of them is the historical bridge Pont de Rohan on which from old locals are housed. Landerneau is a lively town where cultural and musical events take place.
Brest
Do not forget to visit this old port. You can walk through the city or use public transportation. There is a cable-lift as a touristic event.
In Brest old and new meet. There is a nautical museum in the ancient castle and nearby are colourful quays.
Plougastel
Plougastel is the Breton strawberry producer. This region is also known forits crucifixes, chapels and the abbey of Daoulas with its extensive herb garden where quiet rules.
La Vallée des Saints, the valley of the Saints
This historic place with its 50 statues of Breton saints is a homage to all saints who were the founders of Brittany. Here the Celtic legends and present day religion come together. La Vallée des Saints learns us much about our beautiful Brittany.
Chapel Saint-Michel-de-Brasparts
According to the legend this chapel was built on a Celtic holy place. This gives a special meaning to the chapel and people come here to feel connected with the Celtic gods and nature. Not only the chapel, but the region is known for the many legends. Locals keep the ancient times alive.
The chapel Saint-Michel-de-Brasparts lies on a hill in the unspoilt region of Monts d’Arree. The mountains split the Finistere in two.
It is an adventurous place for children. Katall and friends organize enchanting walks. Click here for more information.
For bird watchers this place is worth visiting due to its protected status.
Natural heritage
Preservation of fauna, flora and the sea side gives you the opportunity to experience genuine Brittany. Please, ask us for information or arrange activities for you.
QUIMPER CORNOUAILLE
Menez-Hom
This mountain of 330 meters is the highest point of Brittany. It is easy to climb and rewards you with an amazing view of the surroundings. From here you can see all quarters and enjoy a spectacular sunset. The Menez-Hom is an old volcano. It is popular among paragliders.
Point du Raz
This place is known for its view on the ocean and Ile de Seine. High waves beat steep rocks and it feels as being at the outer parts of the world. The surroundings of Point du Raz are nature conservancy areas. They are the habitat of seabirds.
Ile de Seine
From this isle you can see the Point du Raz from a different perspective. From this former World War 2 bulwark of resistance you can see the beach, the ocean and the locals’ colourful houses.
Mousterlin – Fouesnant
Bird watchers just have to visit this region. In the polder between Mousterlin and Fouesnant you will find a bird sanctuary. During summertime the local tourist office organizes walks here.
the Fouesnant coast
White beaches and blue-green water make this place a paradise for offshore fishing. The sea view is overwhelming. It is the place to spend a lazy day or walk the marked 9 km route along the coast. There are also longer walks from here (GR34, the so-called customs path, 1800 kilometres along the Breton and Norman coast).
BREST TERRES OCÉANES
Tour du cap de la Chevre
Another beautiful spot along the coast. When the sky is bright you can see several islands from the cap.
There is a marked day’s march leading you along the coast and through the inland, from Morgat to the castle of Dinan. Do not forget to take a look at the Pointe de Saint-Hernot, the magnificent bay of Porz Créguen and the cliff above the beach of La Palue.
Archipel de Ouessant
Literally the Finistere, the end of the world. This archipelago consists of 7 island of which only Ouessant and Molene are inhabited. With Compagnie maritime Penn ar Bed you can take the boat to one of the islands or you can make a round trip to admire the animals, landscapes and the lighthouses.
Parc naturel regional d’Armorique
A regional nature reserve of some 125.000 acres, stretches from the Mont d’Arrée to the islands of the Mer d’Iroise, enclosing varied and authentic landscapes. Heath, peat moors, dunes, cliffs and woods: together they are the image of Brittany and offer surprising discoveries.
You can walk or go by car and choose special places to go or visit villages where you will find the authentic Breton culture.
Huelgoat
Huelgoat harbours a legendary wood and is the cradle of many Celtic legends among which Arthur and Merlin. The river Argent is the home of fairies. The rocky landscape seems to join this storybook place. Some rocks resemble shapes like a bed, a wooden spoon, a fork and an umbrella.
Sports and tours
In, on and around the water, Brittany is the perfect place for water sports.
Around water:
GR34
Walking is the best way to experience Brittany. The GR34, also called the customs path, is a route of 1800 kilometres along the Breton and Norman coast leading from Mont St Michel to St Nazaire. Click here for further information on this route.
Cycle the Tour de Manche and the Velodyssee
These cycle tours are the most famous of Brittany. Together they make 1500 kilometres of cycling paths.
The Breton part of the Tour de Manche leads from Mont St Michel to Roscoff. This is a quiet and safe track with varying landscapes.
The Velodyssee leads from Roscoff to Nantes and Morlais and further to the Monts d’arree.
Cycling along de l’Aulne
Follow the l’Aulne and pass Faou, a pretty place. Discover the remnants of the abbey of Landévénec, the bridge of Térénez, historic villages in the Argol, Tregarvan and Dineault and reach Port Launey where the channel Nantes – Brest ends.
Download here the pdf for more information.
Of course there are more routes to cycle. Click here for all routes.
Beach sailing
On the beaches of Saint Anne-la-Palud and Pentrez you can learn beach sailing. There are introductory lessons as well as courses of several days. For bookings or more information go to www.charavoile29.com and http://www.naturabay-hd.com
On the water:
Kervel
The beach of Kervel near Douarnenez is the best place to surf, paddle, kayaking or body-boarding. You can rent equipment and do courses. http://www.naturabay-hd.com
River
You can kayak on the river from Châteaulin via the l’Aulne to the channel of Nantes-Brest. You might see salmons. For more information: Aulne Canoë Kayak à Châteaulin.
In the air
Would you like to learn paragliding? You can. For example from the Menez-Hom, the highest mountain in Brittany. It is not only a fantastic experience to be in the air, but it is also an opportunity to see the surroundings from above. For more information or bookings: https://vol-libre-menez-hom.com