Bretagne

 Apr 24, 2011      739 KM - 458 Miles

 

While Ronnie and Donna recuperated from their Paris trip Betsy and I took off for a circumnavigation of Britagne.
Pulled out early on Betsy north on N137 toward Rennes, then connected to N12 to Saint-Brieuc.  Upon arriving I wended my way around the town and down to the inlet.

Sailors waiting in the lock for the water to lower to sea level.















 And then away.

 

It was a beautiful day, warm sun, high clouds.  A great day for a sail.

Leaving Saint-Brieuc I turned west toward Brest still on the N12.  After circling Morliax I noticed a tall church steeple on the horizon.  Seeing such a thing in France is obviously no rare thing to do.  They are ubiquitous.  But there was something about this one, so I left the highway and turned in to the town of Saint-Thégonnec.  It's a relatively small town, but with a magnificent, and unique old church.

 From the front, like many...except for the surrounding wall.  That's different.  My understanding is that it is a "Close," common to this area.

 Statuary...everywhere.



The little house behind the big house is a small sanctuary.

Very ornate, and with a surprising courtyard.

In the courtyard a tall structure with great, detailed carvings.

I've never seen the equal to this anywhere else in my travels around France.













Leaving Saint-Thégonnec I traveled down D785 toward Pleyben, turning back westward there on N164, I take D887 to Crozon, and then D8 to Camaret-Sur-Mer.




A lovely Bretagne field looking out over one of the many bays in the area.

Betsy in Bretagne

 At Camaret-Sur-Mer I enjoy the scenery and some muelles.

Sort of makes you want to buy a hole in the water into which to throw money, doesn't it?

After a nice stop I swing south and spend the night in Douarnenez, a quaint working man's fishing village across from Crozon.

Some of the scenery going around the Baie De Duarnenez.

Early the next morning I'm on the road back east turning off just past Concarneau to ride out on a small peninsula across the Baie De La Forét from that town.  (As expected at the time, my buddy Yves read me the riot act for not stopping by to visit.  But it was just too early on a holiday morning and I didn't want to push in on someone's holiday.)   Had it been early evening, i.e., a good time for a nice single-malt, I'd have stopped.  You can bet on it, Yves.

 

Carcarneau

Ah, a hole in the water more my (financial) speed.

 A great little ride around Bretagne.

Mont Saint-Michel

Thursday April 14, 2011

We managed to get out earlier than usual and headed for the Atlantic coast and Mont Saint Michel.

Kilroy was here.

If you don't think this is up there, check out the people on the beach below.

Inside

We noticed this large, ramp-like structure when we came in and wondered its purpose.  Turns out it was where food and supplies were brought into the building during a time it was used as a prison.

,

This huge wheel was used to pull items up the ramp.


















You can see the scale of this thing with someone standing next to it.

What better way to end a great visit to a great place than a crêpe.

The Trogs

Rochemenier and Saumur France, April 14, 2011

We determined to see the Troglodyte village of Rochemenier so left Nantes early with the Trogs on our mind and Alley Oop humming in our heads.  Unfortunately, it didn't dawn on Ron and I, masters of the lost song or lyric, that Alley Oop wasn't by the Trogs at all, but by a group called the Hollywood Argyles.  So much for mastery, huh?

Like most, until this trip, I thought Troglodytes were ancient cave dwellers who lived in neolithic times.  Fact is it is anyone who lives in caves and they still exist.  The settlement at Rochemenier dates from the mid-to-late 1700s with the last family leaving the underground buildings in the early 1900s. 

An old church - above ground

I bet this would bring a pretty price on Antiques Roadshow

I'm guessing this is either a pulpit from which the sermon was preached, or reserved for a high official?









We take stairs downward to enter the old town below ground.

In the shed carved into the earth, an old steam engine

The village in the early 1900s

Millstone

Winery storage (it is France, you know)

Large, group meeting room.
Ron is seen taking one of his largest steps of the trip.

Religious chamber below the church above

Some more of the beautiful and ubiquitous flowers of France.

Perhaps my favorite of my entire visit

Leaving Rochemenier we venture west a few miles to Saumer seeking a cháteau and some food.

Cháteau Saumur

Overlooking the Loire

In the restaurant next to the Cháteau

Three Salade de Gesier s-v-p

On the chair to the left is my favorite hat, but you can't see it.  You can see Ron's, but mine is camouflaged.