We all learned in our childhood that the “
nose of France
” was shared between Armor and Argoat (country near the sea – country near the forest).
Brittany is an original land which cultivates its identity.
A jagged coast, a violent sea, an arid land where the wind blows, slowed only by the ordeals of the parish enclosures, a mystical architecture where Saint Yves and Saint Anne are omnipresent, granite castles and fragrant gardens where the shadows of Merlin and Viviane.
Such is Brittany, still mysterious and still fascinating.
Program
Day 1 Tuesday September 17, 2024
PARIS • GUINGAMP • TRÉGUIER • PERROS-GUIREC
Meet at Paris Montparnasse station with your
Figaro
guide .
07:35 a.m.:
Departure of your TGV Inoui train towards Guingamp.
10:42 a.m.:
Arrival at Guingamp station.
You then head towards Tréguier.
Lunch at the restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will discover the charming town of
Tréguier
, an ancient episcopal city and historic capital of Trégor.
A guided tour which will allow you to learn more about the history of the town, which dates back to the 6th century, as well as its remarkably preserved architecture: the half-timbered residences, the half-timbered facades or the remarkable corbels... Don't miss it not the Renan house, former home of the writer and philosopher Ernest Renan.
Point of complete visit to Tréguier without a detour by its impressive cathedral, whose openwork spire soars more than 63 meters!
Built at the beginning of the 12th century in a Gothic style,
Saint-Tugdual Cathedral
is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Brittany.
You will appreciate the finesse of its porch, as well as its pulpit entirely decorated with floral motifs, the surprising bestiary engraved in the choir stalls and the tomb of Saint Yves.
You will then head towards
the Kerdalo gardens.
To make his garden a success, Prince Wolkonsky chose around 1965 an exceptional site between the plateau and the ocean, in a small coastal valley crossed by a stream.
Sheltered from the winds, terraces rise in an abundance of exotic plants;
bamboos, Himalayan rhododendrons follow rose bushes and climbing hydrangeas.
The illuminated composition of waterfalls and pavilions recalls those of 18th century landscapers.
Nearly 2,000 plant species and varieties blend into a wonderful, constantly evolving landscaped garden.
Installation at the hotel.
Dinner and night at the
Grand Hôtel Perros-Guirec****.
Kerdalo Garden Adobestock
Day 2 Wednesday September 18, 2024
PERROS-GUIREC • PLOUMANAC'H • LANNION
Meet with your Figaro guide at Paris-Orly airport. In the morning, discover the heart of the Pink Granite Coast: the village of
Ploumanac'h
, a simple fishing hamlet, which has become one of the symbols of the Brittany.
The Mean Ruz lighthouse, accessible on foot, offers an impressive view of this ocean of another kind: 25 hectares of imposing pink granite rocks, some of which measure more than 20 meters and are more than 300 million years old. 'years !
The Mean Ruz lighthouse in Ploumanac'h Brad Pict - stock.adobe.com
You will then discover
Lannion
, a small town with the character of “old Brittany”.
You will stroll through the old quarter: its granite cross and its old half-timbered houses make a nice contrast.
The church of Brélévenez, built by the Templars in the 12th century, remodeled during the Gothic period, houses an astonishing Entombment from the 18th century.
Figaro Privilege: Lunch at L'Anthocyane restaurant, a gourmet restaurant awarded one star in the Michelin guide.
In the afternoon, you will visit the
chapel of Kerfons
nestled in the chestnut woods, between the castles of Coatfrec and Tonquédec.
Founded by the lords of Coatfrec, it was destroyed during the War of Succession of Brittany.
Rebuilt around 1480, the chapel is remarkable for its oak rood screen, one of the most beautiful in Brittany.
Sculpted in a flamboyant Gothic style, this rood screen is the anonymous work of a Morlais workshop.
As for the nave and the north chapel, they date from the beginning of the 15th century.
A single-bay wall bell tower rises above the western facade.
The south wing, built in 1559 in a Renaissance style, very advanced for the region, is notable for its fenestration inspired by that of the Saint-Eustache church in Paris.
You will continue through the
Kergrist castle
(ker for house – grist for christ).
Raised, remodeled, expanded over the centuries, the Kergrist manor does not lack charm.
Two facades, one Gothic with flamboyant style gabled dormers (14th – 15th centuries), the other from the 18th century, are united by classical wings and a magnificent French garden.
The view extends over the English-style park planted with rare species and in one of the openings emerges the chapel and the surrounding hills.
Return to the hotel via the Côte de Granit Rose.
You will dine at the restaurant
Le Bélouga
, in a unique setting: while enjoying the view of the sea, you will discover the chef's subtle and careful cuisine, built around quality regional products.
Night at the Grand Hôtel Perros-Guirec****.
Lannion Boris Stroujko - stock.adobe.com
Day 3
Thursday September 19, 2024
LOCQUIREC • MORLAIX • SAINT-THÉGONNEC • LAMPAULGUIMILIAU
You will start your morning gently with a tour of the Pointe de
Locquirec
.
Accessible to all, this path embraces the bay and offers breathtaking panoramas over the ocean, all the way to the Pink Granite Coast.
Departing from the port, the walk winds through the streets of the town before reaching La Palud beach, lined with very beautiful villas.
You will then pass in front of an old slate quarry whose blue schist stone, still visible, is recognizable among thousands.
You will finish at Pors ar Villiec beach, a surf spot particularly appreciated by board sports enthusiasts.
You will then reach
Morlaix
and its historic heart with its cobbled streets and 16th century half-timbered houses.
There you will discover the many riches of the city: its churches, its rivers and its port before being able to contemplate the Morlaix viaduct, built in 1863 for the establishment of the Paris-Brest line.
Lunch in a typical creperie.
You will continue with a visit to
Saint-Thégonnec
.
A jewel of Breton heritage, the ossuary chapel and the church are the centerpieces of this rich Renaissance ensemble from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Calvary was erected in 1610. On the base, a niche shelters Saint-Thégonnec with the wolf that he hitched to his cart, replacing his donkey which had been devoured by a pack of hungry wolves.
In the church, the pulpit is one of the masterpieces of Breton sculpture (1683).
You will take the road towards
Lampaul-Guimiliau
.
The parish enclosure is the most typical monumental ensemble found in Breton towns.
It includes a triumphal door which gives access to the Calvary, the ossuary and the church.
These masterpieces carved in granite between the 14th century and the 17th century by Breton villagers are witnesses to the Christian faith.
A small town in Northern Finistère, Guimiliau owes its fame to its magnificent 16th century parish enclosure.
Of the church built in the 16th century, only the bell tower (1530) remains, the rest having been rebuilt in flamboyant and Renaissance styles during the following century.
The south porch, overlooked by a statue of Saint Miliau, king of Cornwall to whom the building is dedicated, is absolutely remarkable for its decoration.
The arches of the latter relate through beautiful imagery the Gospel and the Holy Bible.
Inside the porch stand statues of the apostles on each side, below which runs a frieze telling us about the Old Testament.
Within the building, do not fail to detail the sumptuous baptistery in carved oak from 1675.
In the center of the enclosure stands the Calvary which could undoubtedly be described as one of the most beautiful in Brittany.
Built between 1581 and 1588, it contains more than 200 figures.
The mass built according to an octagonal plan is supported by four buttresses pierced by an arcade and decorated on two levels.
The lower level tells us about the childhood of Jesus and the first hours of the Passion while the upper level tells us about the great hours of the latter.
The construction, oriented along an east-west axis, is topped by a bubo cross at the top of which the crucified Christ faces the sunset.
Return to Perros-Guirec via the bay of Morlaix, an enchanting site at dusk.
Dinner and night at the Grand Hôtel Perros-Guirec****.
The ossuary chapel and the church of Saint-Thégonnec guitou60 - stock.adobe.com
Day 4 Friday September 20, 2024
PLOUGASTEL DAOULAS • CROZON • CAMARET-SUR-MER • BREST • PARIS
In the morning, departure for Finistère!
Along the way, you will stop at
Plougastel Daoulas
, to discover its magnificent Calvary, built at the beginning of the 17th century.
After crossing the Armorique regional park, you will arrive at the
Crozon peninsula
.
Lunch in a restaurant in Crozon.
The cross of the peninsula extends its two arms facing the ocean.
Sheer cliffs, violence of the sea on the reefs, intense color of the rocks, everything is beautiful, severe, deep: Pointe de Pen-Hir, Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe des Espagnes.
You will discover the charm of the town of
Camaret-sur-Mer
, its quays, its artists’ district…
Breathtaking panoramas punctuate this day.
From the Fret port, you will board a speedboat to discover
the harbor of Brest
.
Opened to the ocean by a 1.5 kilometer narrows, this harbor is vast (150 km²) and deep, which explains the military importance of Brest for 2,000 years.
Return to Brest station.
7:19 p.m.:
Departure from the TGV Inoui in 1st class.
11:05 p.m.:
Arrival at Paris Montparnasse station.
The tip of Pen-Hir daliu - stock.adobe.com