Press pack Ireland

1
2014
Press pack
Ireland
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
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Press pack Brittany 2014
Contents
04 Events 2014
06 Brittany experiences will show you how life is lived
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 Tourism in Brittany adopts a “Green Attitude”
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
Brittany will show you
Experiences how life is lived
Join the dance and get your feet and heart pumping!
Bretons have a gift for festivals! And they love
to share it during their festou-noz or “night-time
festivals”, symbols of a unique culture which now
have a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
If you want to try one of these fun events, you could
do worse that the Mardis de la Danse (“Dance Tuesdays”) near Auray, where you’ll get a great introduction to dancing. Or head to Quimper’s Cornouaille
Festival, the Saint-Loup Festival in Guingamp, the
Interceltic Festival in Lorient or the Yaouank Festival
Quimper: home of Breton
earthenware
Now you can try your hand at painting china and
pottery in the legendary Henriot-Quimper workshops, at courses led by artists who know all the
secrets of the traditional Breton bowl.
Wouldn’t it be great to go back home with some
Henriot-Quimper pieces that you have signed yourself? You can do exactly that when you visit the famous Quimper factory, which offers lessons taught
by artists in residence. Three days of sharing and
learning in the fascinating Locmaria district, a meeting-place for all the arts and crafts of Cornouaille!
Brittany Experience price: 450 € per person.
in Rennes… The Kendalc’h Confederation, which is
devoted to Breton culture, provides a fun, friendly
introduction to the Fest Noz. The sessions take place
in a rural setting, echoing the days when locals used
to dance after the farm work was over and at weddings. You’ll dance to the music of the bombarde
(Breton folk oboe), the biniou kozh (Breton bagpipe)
and the accordion. After one of these sessions, you’ll
really shine next time you go to a festnoz party!
Brittany Experience from 5 € per person.
Introduction to fly-fishing
on the rivers of the Monts d’Arrée
On the pure, crystal-clear rivers of the Léon, Morlaix and Central Finistère areas, beginners are
introduced to the magical world of fly-fishing in
nature reserves by Philippe Dolivet, a qualified fishing guide and instructor as well as a passionate
naturalist.
As Philippe says: “Brittany is one of France’s very
few sanctuaries for wild trout.” His lessons cover
technique and much more... This introduction to fly
casting takes place on the banks of Lake Drennec,
Corsair cuisine
aboard the An Durzunel
Sailing and exotic flavours, with Jérôme and Emmanuel in Cancale Bay.
Jérôme is an epicure as well as a sailor and Emmanuel is a long-haul cook on the Spice Route, formerly first mate to the three Michelin starred chef,
Olivier Roellinger. Their meeting sparked a brilliant
idea, which was to combine gastronomy and traditional sailing on board the An Durzunel. Now, in the
calm of the summer, they will treat you to their corsair menu as you sail around the beautiful Cancale
Bay – a really delicious experience.
After a short trip in a Zodiac, visitors climb aboard
the An Durzunel (Breton for ‘the turtle dove’), which
owes its name to the way its sails unfurl like the
wings of a bird. Now a heritage sailing-boat, complete with open-air galley and sea-borne restaurant,
the lugger allows guests to enjoy a bit of sea-fishing
along with the experience of sailing an old-style sailing-ship, interspersed with tasting corsair cuisine.
Between manoeuvres, guests can indulge in Emmanuel’s oysters sprinkled with peppers from all over
the world, followed by freshly caught and barbecued
lobster and mackerel… A marine experience that
wakes up all your senses - you really should try it!
Brittany Experience from 124 € per person.
and starts with learning about the local insects and
aquatic fauna. Rigged out in waterproof waders, novice anglers will learn how to cast a fly-line, appreciate the aesthetic precision of the cast and make
the most of the brief lulls in the tussle between man
and fish. A delicious picnic is also provided, based on
organic produce from the area where Philippe lives,
and enjoyed at the water’s edge. You’ll go away a
complete convert to this way of life.
Brittany Experience from 100 € 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
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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
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cutting, dug out by the convicts who built the canel cy
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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
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ENote for “geocache” treasure hunters: there are 14
treasures hidden along the route! Good Luck!
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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
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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/
Find out more
See our suggestions at
www.voyagez-responsable.com
16
Tourism in Brittany “Green Attitude”
adopts a
New types of accommodation Le Château de Sable
Modern, responsible and innovative
Porspoder
Brittany’s Responsible Travel network, Voyagez
Responsable Bretagne, was set up by Brittany Tourism as a deliberate progressive measure aiming
to encourage professionals to apply the principles
of sustainable development to their businesses.
A former holiday centre transformed into a boutique
hotel, the Château de Sable is located on the north
Finistère coast and offers a fabulous, panoramic sea
view from its impressive picture windows. Franck
Jaclin, the man behind this model refurbishment,
has a number of projects in the department, all of
which combine respect for heritage, openness to the
world and sustainable development.
Find out more
www.lechateaudesablehotel.fr
“La Belle Verte” Ecolodge
Saint-M’Hervé, near Vitré
Establishments listed by Voyagez Responsable Bretagne have been chosen for their commitment in
four key areas: quality of welcome, social and economic responsibility, and respect for the environment. To ensure the best offering in terms of quality
and commitment, all the businesses in the Voyagez
Responsable Bretagne network have been checked
using a system of eco-scoring by VIATAO, a company specialising in sustainable tourism.
About 30 minutes from Rennes, “La Belle Verte”
Ecolodge offers biodynamic accommodation in an
unusual building. In this eco-friendly cabin, designed and built by local craftsmen, the electricity
comes from photo-voltaic panels, the hot water
comes from solar power and waste is recycled or
composted. The Ecolodge is made of wood and earth
and merges into the wild undergrowth of the garden, for a real back-to-nature break.
Find out more
www.ecolodge-labelleverte.fr
New this year: Eco-restaurants
This year, eco-responsible restaurants have joined the Voyagez Responsable Bretagne network,
which already includes over 180 places to stay
that comply with the precepts of social, environmental and economic responsibility.
L’Effet Papillon in Quimper
Much more than a restaurant, L’Effet Papillon is also
a shop selling local arts and crafts, a gallery, a café,
a lecture-theatre and much more...Get to know it on
your next holiday!
Find out more
http://leffet-papillon.blogspot.com
“Les Jardins Sauvages” Restaurant Yves Rocher Eco-Hotel & Spa in La Gacilly
The restaurant of this splendid eco-hotel is an exceptional place, set in the equally lovely Brittany countryside.
Chef Gilles Le Gallès works with fresh, organic, local
produce, some of which comes directly from the hotel’s own kitchen-garden. His cuisine, based on local
produce that is certified 100% organic, is served in a
peaceful, ‘chilled out’ dining-room, with wide picture
windows opening onto the surrounding countryside.
Find out more
www.lagreedeslandes.com/fr/le-restaurant.php
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
Val André Marine Spa, four-star
Thalassotherapy Resort
The Val André Marine Spa enjoys an exceptional
location in Saint Brieuc Bay, overlooking the main
beach of Val André, a listed seaside resort.
Space and light have been given starring roles here,
and the cuisine, based on produce from the sea, is
both tasty and healthy. The world of Thalassotherapy (seawater treatments) and the world of the spa
have been brought together to offer you an experience that’s all about feeling good and living well.
There are over 2,000 sq. m of spa facilities, including 17 treatment rooms, a hydro-active heated
sea-water pool, exclusive treatment programmes
and much more.
Nearby is one of Brittany’s most beautiful golf
courses: the links at Pleneuf Val André. A Val’Golf
Break, designed for golfers, includes fitness sesFind out more
sions, muscle relaxation treatments and backstrengthening treatments.
From 988 € per person.
www.thalasso-resort-bretagne.com/en.php
A Thalassotherapy break in the land of the Roscoff onion sellers
This is where the story of thalassotherapy began
back in 1899… That’s when the major discovery
was made that massage in heated seawater and
wraps based on seaweed, rich in trace elements,
have many health benefits.
The team is still in the forefront of thalassotherapy
today, drawing on a unique expertise to ensure that
this therapy is not only enjoyed by our guests but
leaves them feeling incredibly well.
Close to the Corsair town of Roscoff, on Rockroum
Beach opposite the Isle of Batz, the three-star Thalasstonic Hotel is a place where you can really relax
and unwind. It offers direct access to the beach,
modern comforts and a healthy cuisine based on
local flavours such as artichokes, cauliflower, onions
Find out more
http://roscoff.thalasso.com
and seafood. It’s a package that allows guests to
really enjoy their Breton well-being break.
Several different holiday offers are available to suit
every taste, including pampering breaks, Zen relaxation, beauty packages, etc.
18
Getting to
Brittany
Easy access by plane or ferry
from Ireland
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
Irish visitors transiting by London 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 Ireland to Brittany
By ferry
From
Cork
Rosslare
To
Roscoff
Roscoff
Ferry operator
Brittany Ferries
Irish Ferries
Find out more
www.brittanyferries.com
www.irishferries.com
By plane
From
Dublin
Dublin
Dublin
To
Brest
Nantes
Rennes
Airline
Find out more
City Jet
www.cityjet.com
Ryanair
www.ryanair.com
Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.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: Diaphane - 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 Henriot-Quimper - p7: Top Vincent Michel ; Bottom Simon Bourcier - 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 Left Eco Hôtel SPA Yves Rocher ; Top right La Belle Verte - p17: Top Villa Kerazy ; Middle Gilles Larby ; Bottom Thalasstonic
Hôtel - p18: Top Diaphane ; Bottom Bernard Begne/Région Bretagne - back cover: Emmanuel Berthier.