Press pack
Transcription
Press pack
1 2014 Press pack Great Britain Press contact Celine Badde Tél. : +33 (0)2 99 28 44 41 [email protected] www.brittanytourism.com www.facebook.com/BrittanyFans www.twitter.com/fansofbrittany Brittany tourism / Comité régional du tourisme de Bretagne 1 rue Raoul Ponchon 35069 Rennes cedex, France Tel. +33 (0)2 99 28 44 30 tourismebretagne.com With the support of Comité régional du tourisme de Bretagne l Press pack Brittany 2014 Contents 04 Events 2014 06 The world of the sea surprises and discoveries 08 The fabulous Pink Granite Coast 09 Brocéliande, land of Legends 10 City Trip: Brest, descent of salt-spray 11 City Trip: Saint-Malo, get ready to go aboard! 12 Freewheeling along the cycle paths Be Breizh! .bzh 13 Rambling in the Brittany countryside, traditions and technology 14 Family fun in Brittany 16 Set a course for the islands 17 Well-being, a blend of tradition and luxury… 18 How to get to Brittany 19 Map Breizh is the Breton language word for Brittany. And so, “Be Breizh!” is an invitation to everyone to be transformed by Brittany. It’s a unique process; it means that everyone who steps onto Breton soil will be reinvigorated through the experience of being in Brittany. Come and give Brittany a try and you’ll go home a different person! You can find all the information you need about Brittany, including news and special offers, on the Brittany Tourism website: www.brittanytourism.com In 2014, Brittany was one of the first regions in France to adopt an internet domain extension that proclaims its identity: .bzh. This will help to promote and give visibility to Brittany’s economic, social, cultural and tourist activities. Find out more See details of events and festivals in Brittany at www.whatson-brittanytourism.com 4 Events in 2014 Les Vieilles Charrues 17 to 20 July – Carhaix Les Tombées de la nuit July – Rennes Whilst the Vieilles Charrues ‘Old Ploughs’ programme changes every year, one thing that’s been the same for more than 20 years is the festival’s unrivalled blend of eclecticism and friendliness, featuring established giants of the music scene alongside future legends. Five stages, 80 artists already signed up, 230,000 spectators… The friendly, crazy atmosphere in the festival-goer packed fields is just amazing. In recent years the bill has featured the likes of Mika, Muse, Bruce Springsteen, Phoenix, Bob Dylan, Sting, Selah Sue, etc., and 2014 is looking just as good, with Stromae, Elton John, Girls in Hawaii, ShakaPonk, and Arctic Monkeys already booked! Find out more www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr/2014 Picasso Exhibition “The Eternal Feminine” 23 May to 18 August Quimper Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Art) This collection of 67 etchings and drawings, produced between 1927 and 1964, offers visitors a glimpse into the artist’s private life as they admire the superb portraits of his partners and wives (Françoise, Jacqueline…), share his enthusiasm for literary figures (including Góngora and Balzac) or look into his never-ending visual allusions that range from the Italian Renaissance and the Golden Age in Spain to Matisse. This is a fascinating and unusual exhibition, because of the many facets revealed through the exploration of the theme of women in Picasso’s work; it is also the first in France to include a selection of works lent by Málaga’s Fundación Picasso. Find out more www.mbaq.fr A truly unique festival, Les Tombées de la Nuit ‘Nightfall Festival’ brings street art and performance into the spotlight and offers artists and festival-goers a chance to come face to face in some rather unexpected places. Every year, in early summer, surprise and amazement take over the streets of Rennes. Find out more www.lestombeesdelanuit.com 5 Festival Interceltique de Lorient 1 to 10 August Guest of Honour for 2014: Ireland Each summer, around 700,000 people from all over the world invade the Celtic land of Lorient for the Festival Interceltique. From Galicia to Scotland, the cream of Celtic music can be found here, to be enjoyed in a really friendly atmosphere. Around 200 events and shows including 5,000 artists are on the bill, not to mention the grand parade of Celtic nations or the celebrated Interceltic Night in the Moustoir Stadium. The festival has really gone with a swing every single August since 1971. Find out more The bagpipes and bombards bring the house down – and nobody complains; quite the opposite! www.festival-interceltique.com Coquille St-Jacques Festival 12 & 13 April - Erquy harbour The ports of Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Loguivy-de-lamer and Erquy are all renowned for their scallops, and so it falls to them, every year on the last weekend in April, to organise a festival in honour of their queen of the seas. There are fishing-trips, concerts, street theatre and tastings. It’s a date not to be missed, a chance to celebrate the end of the scallop-fishing season with the fishermen who harvest them. Three days of scallop-focused feasting... that has to be a must! Scallops are considered to be one of the finest shellfish and the local variety is the jewel in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc’s crown. Harvesting them is a real race against the clock! The open season runs from October to May and, in order to safeguard the species, fishing for scallops is only permitted for 45 minutes twice a week. The Coquilles Saint-Jacques festival is Find out more a lively celebration to mark the end of this intense season, before awaiting the opening of the new fishing season… the following October! www.erquy-tourisme.com The 10th Route du Rhum festival 25 October to 2 November Village du Rhum - Saint-Malo The 10th edition of the most legendary of all transatlantic single-handed yacht races will set off from the harbour of Saint-Malo, with the fastest boats expected to arrive in Point-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) about two weeks later. For this special anniversary race, more than 80 multi-hulled and single hulled yachts will set out this year, inspired by sailing-boats from the first race in 1978, which will be there for this year’s celebrations. The Rhum Race Village will be open to the general public every day just below the ramparts, along the Vauban and Duguay Trouin docks, with free exhibitions and other entertainment. Two crucial places to be if you want to witness the start of the transatlantic race are the Saint-Malo locks on November 1st and Cap Fréhel on the day of departure. Find out more www.routedurhum.com Find out more See our Brittany Experiences at www.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences The world surprises and of the sea discoveries Watching the bottle-nosed dolphins in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay A peaceful village, a little beach lapped by a sea of turquoise blue and, in the distance, the unmistakable outline of Mont-Saint-Michel... an ideal setting for a great experience. Just beside Cancale, at Port-Mer, in a wonderful setting, is where Gaël from the ‘AL Lark Association’ will welcome you aboard for a sea-trip to meet the bottle-nosed dolphins, an experience you will never forget. Brittany Experience from 40 € per person. Traditional sailing and watercolor lesson Discover traditional sailing aboard an old sailing ship, help to manoeuvre the boat, and take part in an on-the-spot watercolour lesson… all on board the S.S. Eulalie! lors’ knots, Françoise reveals her artistic gifts along with a few secrets to help beginners in the art of watercolour painting. With its black-trimmed hull, Eulalie is moored at the Lézardrieux quayside in Côtes d’Armor, close to Paimpol. This is where Dominique refurbished this former sardine sloop and gave it a second career: helping budding artists, who can handle a paintbrush much better than they can handle rigging, to discover the Bréhat archipelago, also known as the “Island of Flowers”. Sailing past the La Croix lighthouse, everyone begins to dream and to draw, inspired by the beauty of the lighthouse and the colours of the scene: it works like magic. The combination of the art of sailing and the art of watercolours turns the Bréhat Archipelago into a place of inspiration. Drawing and painting on the sea, amid the gentle lapping of the waves and the sound of the wind in the sails: what an experience! But aboard the Eulalie, anyone can take the helm and become skipper for a day. After a lesson on sai- Brittany Experience price: 70 € per person. See the sunset from the top of the Eckmühl lighthouse Brittany is opening the doors of its lighthouses: near Quimper, visitors are invited to experience a wind and light show during some magical ‘lighthouse nights’. On the Cornouaille headland, the Eckmühl lighthouse lets you get closer to the stars. In the evening, Alexandra opens the giant lighthouse’s doors so that you can walk up the steps to the terrace, which is very close to the top of this 56-metrehigh tower. Here, between the sky and the sea, you have a ringside seat for the magical spectacle that is played out between the last rays of the setting sun and the beams of the lighthouses and beacons. In the evening light, the lighthouse takes on a dif- Paddle boarding and oyster-tasting In the heart of the magnificent landscapes of the Gulf of Morbihan, Pierre offers an experience that combines the fun of surfing with the pleasures of the table, all in one go. The experience starts at Ivan’s house – he’s a member of this family’s fifth generation of oystergrowers. While leaving the house, Pierre shares his passion for and knowledge of paddle boarding with his guests, who gradually start to find their feet on their boards before setting off for the islands in the south-west of the gulf of Morbihan: Huernic, Er Runio, Ile longue, Gavrinis, Berder. This is a really unusual and memorable trip where guests will walk on water! To add to the experience, the new paddle boarding fans are invited to share some quality time with their new-found friends during an oystertasting session on the terrace of an authentic oyster hut, overlooking beautiful Toulvern Bay. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss! Experience from 45 € per person. ferent, peaceful atmosphere. The famous spiral staircase looks like some strange shellfish, its 290 steps reaching majestically towards the heights. Alexandra tells us the story of this beautiful naval building, which was the generous gift of a marquise who wanted a lighthouse to bear the name of her father, the Prince of Eckmühl, and to be dedicated to saving lives. At the top of this stone sentinel, you can find out about the way of life and the living quarters of the lighthouse-keepers, and there is a panoramic view that will take your breath away. Brittany Experience price: 5 € per person. 8 The fabulous xxxxx Pink Granite Coast Between Perros-Guirec and Trébeurden there is a shoreline of rare beauty, all thanks to an unusual geological phenomenon. Everywhere you look, piles of pink granite rocks rise up in amazing shapes, sculpted by the wind and sea, a masterstroke of creation forming a grandiose, almost unreal landscape. The former fishing village of Ploumanac’h, which is now part of the town of Perros-Guirec, is known all over the world for its strange blocks of pink granite, which are 300 million years old and cover more than 25 hectares, a really magnificent sight. The site, visited by more than a million people each year, has national heritage status and is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral (Coastal Protection Agency). You really should see it if you are holidaying in the region. Don’t miss the intriguing shapes of some of the rocks, such as Napoleon’s hat, the upsidedown bottle, and the mushroom. There’s another local curiosity in the oratory dedicated to Saint Guireg, on Ploumanac’h beach. The legend says that if an unmarried woman sticks a needle in the statue’s nose and the needle is still there after the spring tides, they will be married within the year! Find out more www.cotedegranitrose.fr Setting a course for the Sept Iles aboard an old sailing ship “Anchors aweigh!” Aboard the Saint Guirec, a magnificent traditional sailing-boat, visitors have a chance to savour the salt-spray of adventure and get involved in handling the boat. To help you get your sea legs, there’s nothing better than the skipper’s warm welcome. Denis le Braz makes beginners and weather-beaten old seadogs feel equally at home. The plan is to sail from Perros-Guirec and set a course for the treasures of the Sept Iles! Amongst these treasures is the island of Rouzic, nesting site of the famous Northern gannet. En savoir plus There are almost 20,000 pairs occupying its cliffs, giving the island the appearance of an iceberg when seen from the coast. Thanks to Denis and his crew, it is possible to get quite near to them and find out about their habits and behaviour. Gannets, puffins, grey seals…the Sept Iles Bird Sanctuary is a refuge for many protected species. This experience gives you a chance to observe them in the course of an unforgettable sea voyage! Brittany Experience price: 42 € per person. www.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences 9 Brocéliande Land of Legends Brocéliande, or a crash-course in Arthurian legend Everyone has heard of the legend of King Arthur, a legend that finds its source among the lakes and moorlands of the magnificent forest of Brocéliande. The very name of the place brings to mind the magical world inhabited by Vivian the fairy, the wizard Merlin or Sir Lancelot. It is a magical place that you can explore on wonderful walks. The Château de Comper was, in the 9th century, the home of King Salomon and you really should Find out more see it when taking a walk in the forest of Brocéliande. According to legend, it was where Vivian the fairy lived, and nowadays it is home to the Centre de l’Imaginaire Arthurien (Centre for Arthurian Legend). The centre organises exhibitions, shows and forest walks, all based on this theme. It is a mine of information and should not to be missed by anyone who wants to refresh their memory or learn more about these wonderful tales. www.broceliande-vacances.com The Porte des Secrets where you can discover all the magic of Brocéliande This new trail, located in the outbuildings of Paimpont Abbey, is packed with poetry and provides total immersion in the mysterious world, steeped in legend, found in the forest of Brocéliande. Merging myth and reality, Pierre, the forest warden, will reveal the thousand and one facets of this mysterious place. After a tour of his workshop, where he will invite you to sit around his work table, he will lead you off into the forest. This entertainment trail offers an exciting experience, using backdrops and lighting effects, together with music composed by the famous harpist, Cécile Corbel, who is the patron of “Brocéliande, La Porte des Secrets”. It’s a wonderful introduction before you set off to explore the forest! Find out more www.portedessecrets-broceliande.com 10 Brest, the scent Terres Océances of salt-spray Brest: a revivifying seaside City Trip Forget everything you thought you knew about Brest and come and explore the heart of this maritime city nestled in one of France’s most beautiful natural harbours. The best way to discover Brest is to see its new structures, such as the Iroise Bridge, as you stroll through the commercial port and soak up the special atmosphere of the place, with its famous harbour, trying Around Brest Nearby are Pointe Finistère and the Crozon peninsula, offering visitors incredible panoramic views. In this landscape of moorland and heather, keen walkers should head to the Cap de la Chèvre coastal path and take in the magnificent views of wild, bewitching Brittany. Camaret, Douarnenez Bay, Landevennec Abbey are all famous places that are really worth a visit. Find out more to guess what military manoeuvres are being plotted behind those high walls. To really get the feel of Brest, a maritime city par excellence, you should go and find out about the history of Brest and the French navy on a visit to the castle and its Navy Museum. And don’t forget to take a walk around the Moulin Blanc Marina and discover Brittany’s largest aquarium, Océanopolis. The Pays des Abers area is well worth seeing. It is also known as the “Côte des Légendes” or the wreckers’ coast, and the ocean intrudes a long way into these lands of North Finistère, creating the deep estuaries or “abers” that are found in coastal Brittany. The coast is dotted with a host of lighthouses and has three “abers”, the most impressive of which is Aber Wrac’h. www.brest-metropole-tourisme.fr, www.oceanopolis.com & www.abers-tourism.co.uk In the footsteps of the early navigators, on board the Recouvrance The Recouvrance is a replica of an 1817 ‘dispatch boat’, a fast military sloop originally intended for carrying urgent messages. Since its launch in 1992, it has served as an ambassador for Brest. At the Brest Castle harbour, Yann Fournier and his crew wait for the guests who will be sailors for a day, taking a voyage through time in the middle of one of the world’s largest natural harbours. Get ready to set the sails, tighten the halyards and haul in the sheets! Brittany experience price: 99 € per person. En savoir plus www.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences ready Saint-Malo Get to go aboard! Saint-Malo: a City Trip in the Corsair City Like a ship of stone moored in the Rance estuary, the ramparts of Saint-Malo stand proudly above its beaches and its port. The walls and towers that rise from the fortifications give the town its unique silhouette. The rampart walk offers unrivalled views and is a great way to get to know the citadel of Saint-Malo! A tour of the walls leads you from one bastion or tower to another. On one side are the narrow streets of the town; on the other there are magnificent views over the Find out more beaches, harbour and forts. From the Porte SaintVincent gate at the entrance to the citadel, you can see the harbours and Saint-Servan. Between the Saint-Louis and Saint-Philippe bastions, the view opens up to take in the estuary and Dinard and the beaches, which stretch below the ramparts as far as the Bidouane Tower. At low tide, the sand dries as far as the islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé. When you get back to the castle you can see the large Sillon beach stretching away in front of you. www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk Where can you spend the night nearby? La Maison des Armateurs Behind its walls of stone, this four-star hotel has 45 elegant, tastefully decorated rooms. This is the only four-star hotel inside Saint-Malo’s city walls and it makes its clients feel that they are very special guests. The numbers on the bedroom doors and the opulent armchairs look as if they have come from the admiral’s poop-deck, whilst the bedheads make you think of the days when France had a ‘Royal’ navy. The atmosphere is extremely comfortable and modern, with a superb fireplace warming up the lounge bar. This is a really special hotel in a wonderful location, only a stone’s throw from the beaches. Find out more www.maisondesarmateurs.com 12 Find out more See our routes at www.cycling-brittanytourism.com Freewheeling along the cycle paths Le Tour de Manche “Bike Route of the Year” ? Nominated by the organisers of the Amsterdam “Fiets&Wandelbeurs” Exhibition, for the title of “Bike Route of the Year 2014”, the Tour de Manche can claim top ranking amongst the major European long-distance cycle routes. Linking the legendary Mont-Saint-Michel with the cliffs of Southern England’s Jurassic Coast, the Tour de Manche bike route offers a unique circular trail comprising more than 1,200 kilometres of minor roads and green ways, clearly signposted and dotted with accommodation that makes special provision for cycle tourists. To complete the package and link Southern England to Normandy and Brittany, each day ferries in six ports on both sides of the Channel take bicycles on board. So you can add all the pleasures of a cruise to those of a cycle tour! From the celebrated Corfe Castle to the Normandy landings beaches, via Saint-Malo or the Pink Granite Coast, the Tour de Manche offers both long-distance cycling holidays and family days out. Its dedicated Find out more website shows the entire route divided into sections, together with lots of practical advice about accommodation, ferries, French traffic and local visitor attractions. http://en.tourdemanche.com/ Le Tour de Manche sur mesure Roscoff - Mont-Saint-Michel The specialist cycling holiday agency Abicyclette has just launched a “Hands on the Handlebars” package that brings together accommodation and restaurant facilities, cycle and GPS hire, luggage transport and 24-hour assistance, all combined with a route guide that gives practical and tourist information. All the cyclist has to do is choose a start and finish point and the guide does the rest. So you can save your energy for pedalling! Find out more www.abicyclette.net New publication ro u te Weym o u th -P o o le S t- M a lo -W -C h e rb o u rg eymo u th A 450 fo r al km cr o ss -C l a T o u th e fa m il h an n e l o y, d ys r o f Je rs e y in co rp o ra se y ti n g Co me C DE MAN VI A 955508 Y H 2 W EA N D ST -M A LO G YMOUT PTDM-B UR er.indd 1 8 13 15:0 14/08/20 régional de développement avenir Fonds européen ne investit dans votre L’Union européen 2-8-8 Europea The Europea n Regional Develop ment Fund n Union, investing in your future ookCov Fund Development European Regionalinvesting in your future Union, The European -0-9 ISBN: 978 978-0- MOUTH http://en.tourdemanche.com/news/petit-tour-de-manche-guidebook-goes-on-sale 9 UK £1 1.9555082-8-8 p DE UK £1 1. 99 ISBN: BO , CH ER PO O LE C E an d ex No rm pl or e an dy th e Ju on rid e. ra ss ic St ar tin th is ne w co as t cir cu g in W Ma nc an d ru lar cr he ta ey mo ra l os s-c ke s in ut h, th we nd th e ing e Pe tit ha nn el cy cle Ch er bo its wa y to fa bu lo us Do rs et To ur de Po ur ol e be Ch er bo g. Th e 37 fo re cr co un try sid 5 km ur g pe os sin e, Fr en ch Ca nc nin su g to ale be la, pa se ct io fo ss ing n co ve re lin ba ck Mo nt kin g to W rs th e -S t-M wi th ey mo St -M alo ich el ut h. an d an d th RO UT e fe rry E IN FO RM AT AL L TH IO N, E BE ST DE TA PL AC IL ED ES TO MA PP IN G PL EA T, SL EE US P & DR IN K. petit tourHE WE c y c li n g DE M ANCH Find out more hannel petit tour d ru ral co as t an ne l cy cle Ju ras sic ss- ch an re th e d ex plo cu lar cro To ur de Co me an on th is ne w cir th e Pe tit sid e, h, dy ut an mo co un try No rm in W ey Do rse t ing us art ulo ssi ng to rid e. St th e fab th e fo re cro tak es in co ve rs Po ole be Ma nc he se cti on d wa y to ch el its en Fr ich an we nd ing nt -S t-M e 37 5 km fer ry ur g. Th ssi ng Mo an d th e Ch er bo su la, pa alo nin -M pe th St ur g kin g wi Ch er bo lin re be fo Ca nc ale ut h. W ey mo G PL US ba ck to MA PP IN TA ILE D DR IN K. IO N, DE EE P & FO RM AT EA T, SL IN E ES TO RO UT ST PL AC BE E AL L TH E a To ur The detailed maps and route information are presented alongside the author’s own tips and recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, etc.) as well as details of the sites to see along the route. Absolutely indispensable! C ro ss -C MANCH An indispensable tool for cyclists tempted byrbthe o u rg -C h e -P o o le th by Petit Tour de Manche, this newW eguide, y m o u th written eymou -W lo a S t- M cycling journalist Mark Porter and published by y od ys se ha nn el Baytree Press, includes all the practical at in g cr os s- Cinformakm co rp or 50 4 A m ily , in fa e th tion you need for the tour. fo r al l ey rs Je of petit tour DE The Petit Tour de Manche Topoguide in English Fonds europée L’Union europée n de développ nne investit ement régional dans votre avenir WEY M O V IA PO O LE , 13 Find out more See our suggestions for hiking routes at www.rando-tourismebretagne.com Rambling in the traditions Brittany countryside and technology Brittany’s waymarked footpaths Whether you go alone, as a couple, or with family and friends, you can explore Brittany’s most beautiful countryside on a walking holiday using the many waymarked footpaths that criss-cross the Breton landscape. Reaching every part of Brittany, these thousands of kilometres of footpaths will lead you to the wideopen spaces, including abers (deep estuaries), inlets, forests, moorland and bocages. A note for your diary in March 2014: the themed French language website devoted to exploring Brittany will be launched. It will offer a selection of long-distance trails and circular walks, together with all the details you might need to plan your walking, cycling, horse-riding, mountain-biking or even sailing expeditions. This new tool is both practical and fun and will help you to plan your holiday. It shows accommodation suitable for ramblers, and downloadable GPS routes, as well as special offers on existing Topoguide route plans, and useful advice, and services for ramblers. The Saints’ Shore Way The Lannion Trégor Community and the Bay of Morlaix/Monts d’Arrée Tourist Office have got together to publish a walking guide whose route is modelled on the Saints’ Way in England, combining historical interest with tourism. The guide has been written by British writer Wendy Mewes and is published by Red Dog Books. The route aims to help walkers to explore the 133 kilometres of coastal paths (the famous GR 34) that link Lannion and Morlaix Bay. Find out more www.tourisme-morlaix.fr/The-Saints-Shore-way.html GPS and geocaching in Kreiz Breizh To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the NantesBrest Canal, the Kreiz Breizh Tourist Office has created a 15 km walk called “In the convicts’ footsteps”, a GPS-guided route that follows the C ro s s -C h a n cutting, dug out by the convicts who built the canel cy c li n g ro u te nal, as well as the camp and other sites associated with the Nantes-Brest Canal. Visitors can rent a GPS from the Kreiz Breizh Tourist petit to Office or download it free of charge from the tourist ur office website. EM ANCH ENote for “geocache” treasure hunters: there are 14 treasures hidden along the route! Good Luck! OUTH C H ER 2 WE Y BOUR MOU G AN D ST -M TH A LO 14/08/20 13 15:0 8 Find out more www.tourismekreizbreizh.com The route allows walkers to follow the path of the “Saints” who came from Great Britain from the 4th to the 6th centuries. At various points along the way, including Roscoff, Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Carantec, Morlaix, Plougasnou, Locquirec, Plestin-les-Grèves and Lannion you can discover the secrets of Brittany’s origins and see some outstanding panoramic views. For all the family All the special offers, accommodation and activities for families can be found on the dedicated website www.familyfun-brittanytourism.com 14 Family fun in Brittany Follow Katell into the enchanted world of the Monts d’Arrée mountains ‘Ribambelles et ritournelles’ invites visitors of all ages into the heart of the Monts d’Arrée woods for a walk and a story. Katell, who is half-Welsh, half-Breton, welcomes visitors with a song in Welsh and then Fred, the giant musician, leads the way. Korrigans, the Breton elves, and other creatures come along to join Find out more this magical nature trail. With animal puppets on her fingers, in the middle of a natural theatre, Katell is a real hit with visitors! You only have to look at the smile on the children’s faces: it never falters, all the way from the first welcome to the Gargantuan afternoon tea that comes at the end of this magical musical experience. www.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences A new display at the Musée du Loup From the end of April onwards, visitors can discover, or rediscover, a museum that is the only one of its kind in France, and find out all about the wolf, such a fascinating animal as they go round the unusual displays. Visitors can rub shoulders with stuffed wolves, learn about wolves through a variety of teaching aids, look at a reconstruction of a wolves’ den and also help the sheep escape from the wolf! Using the various interactive facilities you can transform yourself into a creature that is half-man, half-wolf and also see yourself on screen alongside a virtual wolf. This is a real treat for all ages, a visitor attraction where fun and invention are all part of the mix. Find out more www.museeduloup.fr 15 Haliotika, La Cité de la Pêche The World of Fishing What’s it like to be a fisherman? How does a fish auction work? How should fish be prepared and cooked? At Haliotika, you get right under the scales of a fish; you get to know what has happened to it all the way from its travels in the ocean to its arrival on your plate! The “Cité de la pêche” in Le Guilvinec, France’s most important port in terms of the numFind out more ber of fishermen, takes you right inside the world of modern-day fishermen, who go out, every day, to catch langoustines, monkfish, skate, cod, whiting and sardines. Visitors of all ages can find out about life at sea thanks to the audio-guides and the many events and presentations: tastings of fish soup, an introduction to shellfish gathering, seaweed cookery workshops, a guided tour of the National Lifeboat. www.haliotika.com Where can you spend the night nearby? L’Orangerie de Lanniron The Castels Orangerie de Lanniron five star campsite was formerly the summer residence of the bishops of Quimper who, in the 12th century, enjoyed the cool banks of the river Odet in summer. Today it is a favourite stopping-off point for families, close to the historic centre of Quimper. Facing the Odet, in grounds of 38 hectares, with Frenchstyle gardens, this top-ranking establishment offers the complete range of accommodation, including a campsite, gîtes, cottages, and more. The estate offers its guests many facilities and services: a restaurant, bar, grocery store, water park with aqua-fun complex, wellness centre, games area, nine-hole golf course, entertainment, etc. But even though it’s rooted deep in green countryside it still feels close to the coast of Finistère, with the ocean only 15 km away. Find out more http://lanniron.com/en/ 16 Set a course for the islands Mysterious Ouessant Ready for an island sailing trip? Right then, set a course for the Ouessant (Ushant) Archipelago! On these islands at the extreme west of mainland France, your holiday will start to get really exciting! This string of islands seems unreal, suspended between heaven and sea, shrouded in spindrift. This really is throwing you in at the deep end! A beautiful collection of islands, 30 km from Pointe Saint-Mathieu, the Ouessant Archipelago, which really is “Finistère” (literally “land’s end”), is made up of seven islands, surrounded by isolated rocks. Only Molène and Ouessant, the largest, are inhabited. The inhabitants of Ouessant are a friendly lot and so they have installed signals to help sailors. Majestic lighthouses stand proudly on the island or alongside it, such as the Stiff Lighthouse, built by Vauban in 1695, the Jument with its red cap, and the Kéréon. The most powerful and the most famous of all is the Créac’h Lighthouse, very photogenic and instantly recognisable in its black and white “fisherman’s jersey”. Find out more The island is 7 km long and shaped like a crab’s claw. It is bordered by rocks with fantastical shapes. It was the very high cliffs that gave this ocean sentinel its Celtic name: Ouxisama, meaning “the highest”. Ouessant is mysterious and intends to preserve its mystery, but it is still prepared to lift its veil for visitors…. www.ot-ouessant.fr Brilliant Bréhat Bréhat is only separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of sea and is just ten minutes or so by boat from Pointe de l’Arcouest. But as soon as you arrive, you feel you are in a different world on this island, sometimes called the “Isle of Flowers” because of the variety of its flora and the beauty of its landscapes. A real little corner of paradise. All year round, the Gulf Stream gives this magnificent spot a real micro-climate. This means that many plant species thrive here: hydrangeas, mimosas, mulberry trees, eucalyptus, aloes, camellias, and more – the island’s nickname really suits it. But the Find Find out out more more www.brehat-infos.fr www.brehat-infos.fr flower that symbolises the island most of all is the agapanthus. From June to September, its bluish-violet flower blooms on every path you follow on Bréhat. The houses are very pretty too and you will find exotic plants and isolated inlets. Bréhat has so much to offer – but don’t try to bring your car: motor vehicles are not allowed here and you have to get around on foot or by bike! As for the birds, more than 120 species have been recorded on the island, and in the spring you will hear blue-tits, finches, robins, larks and song-thrushes. Find out more See our well-being suggestions at www.wellness-brittanytourism.com Well-being, a blend of tradition and luxury… An Ayurveda getaway for two Located in Vannes, the Villa Kerasy four-star Hotel & Spa combines the stylishness of a 1920s residence with themed décor that evokes the Road to India, just a stone’s throw from the megaliths of the Gulf of Morbihan. This former hosiery plant has come a long way since it was converted into a lovely boutique hotel, that recalls the epic voyages of Breton sailors heading off to Asian lands. To win over new visitors, the hotel/ spa is launching a new “1 night wellness escape” for Find out more 2, including 1 night in a Deluxe room overlooking the garden, 2 continental breakfasts, a two-hour spa package entitled “Spirit of India duo” and 2 Ayurvedic room service dinners, available from 433 €. www.spakerasy.com/en The apple, elixir of beauty The Armor Argoat Spa at the four-star Coq Gadby eco-hotel has developed the ISB range of cosmetics. The products are both natural and ethical and combine cosmetic effects with the active ingredients of apples. This new range, inspired by Arthurian legend, gives the skin the nourishing, hydrating and firming properties of the apple: try “Le Secret de Viviane”, their anti-ageing, relaxing signature treatment, or “Le Murmure des fées” (Fairy Whisper) to help you relax… Using the apple as its theme, the Armor Argoat Spa offers, amongst its latest services, a detox-naturopathy cure that was designed by a Michelinstarred chef, fitness experts and a naturopath. Find out more www.lecoq-gadby.com/spa-rennes.php Private suites for greater well-being The most recently-opened spa in the “Relais Thalasso” chain, the four-star Château des Tourelles in Pornichet, offers an innovative new thalassotherapy and spa experience. No more waiting, no more schedules, just a “Private Relais Thalasso Suite” for your entire stay, including: steam-room, bath, massage table with sea-water shower, experience shower, and a private lounge with a seaweed bar to make your well-being experience last longer. And the best thing about this new experience is that clients will be pampered throughout their stay by a qualified hydrotherapist! In Brittany, two “Relais Thalasso” establishments offer these unique suites: the four-star Château des Tourelles in Pornichet and the three-star Relais Thalasso in Bénodet. Find out more www.thalasso-tourelles.com & http://benodet.relaisthalasso.com 18 Getting to Brittany Easy access by plane or ferry from the UK By car As soon as they arrive in the region, tourists have the benefit of Brittany’s entirely toll-free dual carriageway network. By train From London, visitors from Britain can get to the Gare du Nord in Paris in 2 hours 20 minutes by Eurostar. Then, to continue their journey, Brittany has an excellent rail service from Paris aboard the TGV Atlantique high speed train. From the Gare Montparnasse, it takes two hours to get to Rennes and four hours to Brest or Quimper. Find out more Find out more www.eurostar.com www.voyages-sncf.com Direct routes from the UK to Brittany By ferry From Plymouth Poole Portsmouth Weymouth By plane To Roscoff St-Malo St-Malo St-Malo Ferry operator Brittany Ferries Condor Ferries Brittany Ferries Condor Ferries From To Birmingham Brest East Midlands Dinard ExeterRennes Guernsey Dinard Leeds Bradford Dinard London City Nantes, Brest London City Quimper London Gatwick Nantes London Stansted Dinard Manchester Brest, Nantes, Rennes Southampton Brest, Rennes Find out more www.brittanyferries.com www.condorferries.co.uk www.brittanyferries.com www.condorferries.co.uk Airline Find out more Flybe www.flybe.com Ryanair www.ryanair.com Flybewww.flybe.com Aurigny www.aurigny.com Ryanair www.ryanair.com Cityjet www.cityjet.com British Airways www.ba.com Easyjet www.easyjet.com Ryanair www.ryanair.com Flybe www.flybe.com Flybe www.flybe.com Information Brittany tourism Comité régional du tourisme de Bretagne 1 rue Raoul Ponchon • CS 46938 35069 Rennes cedex, France Tél. +33 (0)2 99 28 44 30 • [email protected] tourismebretagne.com Brittany Tourism has been awarded the Green Globe Certificate for Sustainable Development. Document published by Brittany Tourism • 2014 Cover and inside pages: designed by Charlotte Mével for Awen Studio • Photo credits: Cover: Emmanuel Berthier - p 3: Emmanuel Berthier - p4 : Top left Guillaume Leroy ; Top right Diaphane ; Bottom Figure with striped blouse ©Succession Picasso 2013 - p5: Top Myriam Jegat ; Middle Nicolas Job ; Bottom Route du rhum - p6: Top Yannick Derennes ; Bottom Ronan Gladu - p7: Top Laurent Guilliams ; Bottom Nautik Experience - p8: Top Emmanuel Berthier ; Bottom Ronan Gladu - p9: Top Emmanuel Berthier ; Bottom La Prod est dans le Pré - p10: Top Diaphane ; Bottom Ronan Gladu - p11: Top Yannick Le Gal ; Bottom La Maison des Armateurs - p12: Top Diaphane ; Middle Hervé Ronne - p13: Top Diaphane ; Bottom Kreizh Breizh - p14: Top Pierre torset ; Bottom Le Musée du Loup - p15 Top Simon Bourcier ; Bottom Orangerie de Lanniron - p16 Top Emmanuel Berthier ; Bottom Xavier Dubois - p17: Top Villa Kerazy ; Middle Coq Gadby ; Bottom Château des Tourelles - p18: Top Diaphane ; Bottom Bernard Begne/Région Bretagne - back cover: Emmanuel Berthier.
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