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France Brittany – From Rennes to
Brest
Between Ocean and Heaven
Beratung & Buchung
Kristof Halasz
France
Inclusive services
7 nights incl. breakfast
6 multi-course dinners
1 special seafood dinner
All entry fees as mentioned in the tour description
All visitors and tourist taxes
All interim shuttles as mentioned in the tour description (bus, boat)
Rotalis guide during the whole tour
Additional city tour in Rennes
Rotalis service bus during the whole tour
Rotalis luggage service
Rotalis touring bike (excluded electric bicycle)
Tagesablauf
Arrival: Saturday
You reach Rennes Airport via Paris CDG. To get to the city center, either take a taxi or the shuttle bus.
From the terminal stop of the shuttle bus in Rennes at République Pré Botté, it only takes a short walk to
the Hotel Mercure Rennes Centre Parlement.
The hotel is located in the heart of the city, close to the historic part with its pedestrian area, restaurants
and shops. Your room at the hotel will be ready by 2 p.m. The accommodation from Saturday to Sunday
(including breakfast) is included in the tour price.
At 5 p.m. a local guide awaits you in the hotel lobby for a sightseeing tour. Rennes’ special attraction is the
“Grande Chambre” with its gilded ceiling in the main building of the Breton Parliament, a masterpiece of the
performing arts of the 17th century. You will also see the royal squares “Les Places Royales” and “Place
des Lices” with colourful frame houses built from the 15th to the 17th centuries.
1st Day Sunday: Rennes – Dinan (23 miles)
A short train ride takes us to the starting point of our bike tour in Combourg. The typical Breton village with
houses built of natural granite is considered the cradle of romanticism due to the fact that François-René de
Chateaubriand has grown up there in the family castle. Without mentionable climbs, we cycle along the
picturesque Ille-et-Rance Canal which connects the cities of Rennes and Saint Malo. Built at the beginning
of the 19th century in order to avoid the British naval blockade, it is nowadays primarily used by yachts and
house boats. Passing by little hamlets with flower-decorated houses we reach medieval Dinan. High above
the Rance river, the “Ville d’art et d’histoire” imposingly presents its cultural heritage. 1000 years of history
are reflected in beautiful frame houses, rich middle-class residences and the Château de Dinan, the
so-called “donjon”, which was built in the 13th century. We will be staying at the aesthetically furnished
“L’Avaugour”, a hotel in a historic building right in the town center. After the sightseeing tour a charming
restaurant awaits us with an excellent dinner.
2nd Day Monday: Dinan – Morlaix (23 miles)
After breakfast, a bus takes us in almost two hours into the heartland of Brittany, the Finistère. From the
Monts d’Arrée we take in the view over a seemingly endless carpet of heather and honey yellow gorse.
When the fog descends over the mountains, it easy to imagine why so many legends have their seeds in
this atmospheric scenery. Before mounting our bikes, we walk through the enchanted forest of Huelgoat.
Majestic oak and beech trees and mossy granite rocks have inspired many writers and painters. Along a
former railroad track our bikes take us to Morlaix. We stroll around the picturesque historic center with its
typical “lantern houses” with glassed patios. The Maison de la Duchesse Anne, allegedly the dwelling place
of Anne de Bretagne, is a particularly well-preserved example. We are welcomed in the traditional and
recently renovated “Hotel de L’Europe”. For dinner, regional specialties will be served in a nearby
restaurant.
3rd Day Tuesday: Morlaix – Pointe St. Mathieu (35 miles)
In the morning, we cycle along an undulating path to the Enclos Paroissiaux in St. Thegonnec, an excellent
example of the regions famous parish closes. They each consist of a triumphal arch, a calvary, an ossuary
and a church. Their quaint and curious embellishments are a typical expression of Breton art. A little further,
in the parish close of Guimiliau, we see one of Breton’s most renowned calvaries and a particularly
beautiful church of the 17th century. After lunch, we reach Lampaul and will be surprised by the colorful
interior of its church and the mighty church spire. Today’s cycling stage ends in Landerneau, famous for the
Pont de Rohan, one of the rare preserved inhabited bridges in Europe. Here, a shuttle picks us up and
takes us to Pointe St. Mathieu where we lodge in the comfortable „Hostellerie de la Pointe St. Mathieu“. We
will enjoy the hotels’ spa and excellent cuisine for two nights. On an evening walk you can enjoy the
breathtaking panoramic view onto the peninsula of Crozon and Brest harbour.
4th Day Wednesday: Round trip Ile d’Ouessant (23 miles)
A depot ship takes us and our bikes within one hour to the Ile d’Ouessant, the main island of the
archipelago and a veritable highlight of our tour. In this area the gulf stream creates some of the most
enormous currents in the great oceans. As a nature and UNESCO biosphere reserve, the island is a
nesting site for many rare seabirds. Sailers have always dreaded the cliffs, reefs and shallow waters
surrounding the island. Cycling along grainfields and salt meadows dotted by brown sheep, we pass by little
chapels and memorial places, erected in honor of drowned or lost sailors. We reach Lampaul, the little main
town of the island, about lunch time. In the late afternoon, the ferry boat takes us back to Le Conquet. After
a short while we reach the “Hostellerie de Saint Mathieu” for our second night.
5th Day Thursday: Pointe St. Mathieu – Aber Wrac’h (33 miles)
We spend most of the day biking along the romantic coastline of the Côtes d’Abers with their dramatic cliffs
and rock formations. Now and then a little picturesque harbour invites us to linger for a little while.
Breathtaking views of breakers and natural colours await us in the north-western corner of the European
continent. Today’s destination is the little fishing and sailing harbour Aber Wrac’h. The elegant and
charming hotel “La Baie des Anges” looks right into Angel’s Bay. Monsieur Briant, the owner, has realized
his dream of an exclusive hotel with a beautiful spa (2 nights). We will have dinner in a restaurant much
appreciated by the locals.
6th Day Friday: Aber Wrac’h – Brignogan Plage – Aber Wrac’h (24 miles)
This morning we bridge the first 16 miles by bus. The pilgrimage church of Le Folgoët, a masterpiece of
Breton architecture, is worthwhile a stop on our way to Brignogan Plage. There, we mount our bikes and
cycle through a marvelous scenery of dreamy little bays in a setting of rocks and boulders. At the Pointe de
Pontusval with its characteristic lighthouse we reach the highlight of our route. In the afternoon, we are
once more welcomed at “La Baie des Anges”. After a journey full of impressions, our last dinner awaits us
with a delicious “Plateau de fruit de mer”. A special treat are the oysters of “Prat Ar Coum” which are known
and appreciated way beyond Brittany’s borders.
7th Day Saturday: Aber Wrac’h – Brest
After breakfast, there will be enough time for a long walk along the beach or to one of the lookout points.
Around noon we will take you to Brest’s airport or to the railroad station. Flights to Paris departe four times
a day, the TGV takes you in two hours to Rennes and in five hours to Paris.
Dates and prices
03.06.17 / ab 1.640 €
26.08.17 / ab 1.640 €
10.06.17 / ab 1.640 €
17.06.17 / ab 1.640 €
19.08.17 / ab 1.640 €