Culture, heritage & gastronomy...
in the heart of Brittany
The landscapes of Brittany
The Nantes-Brest canal winds its way from valley to valley, joined here and there by rivers and ponds. Emblematic of the Breton landscape, the canal crosses Carhaix, the Kreiz Breizh, Guerlédan, Pontivy... escaping as far as Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux.
On either side of the tourist destination Cœur de Bretagne, the small Breton mountains complete the landscape. The emblematic Monts d'Arrée are home to many Breton legends, populated by korrigans and the Ankou, in an expanse of wild moorland, typical of central Brittany. The walks here are unforgettable.
Climb to the top of Mont Saint Michel in Brasparts or Roch Trévézel for a 360° view.
A short distance away, the mythical granite chaos of Huelgoat is reminiscent of the granite chaos of Kreiz Breizh, Corong and Toul Goulic. The trembling rock only shakes with a lot of perseverance, but the cavities and passages between the rocks are memorable.
Cultural and patrimonial heritage
Here and there, like hidden treasures on the narrow roads, are the chapels and parish enclosures of central Brittany. In keeping with the fervour of the Bretons, churches, calvaries and other crosses have been erected in many places. The chapel of Sainte-Barbe in Le Faouët, with its stairs and arches, the parish enclosure of Kergrist-Moëlou and its vault painted with portraits, the abbey of Bon-Repos, a majestic sepulture site, or that of Langonnet, with its rich history, the chapel of St Nicolas des Eaux, set against the rock... So many surprises to discover in the religious heritage.
But the heritage of central Brittany is much more extensive. You will see menhirs, covered walkways and dolmens by taking the right paths. You can wander through the old cobbled streets of the medieval village of Guémené-sur-Scorff or the Napoleonic town of Pontivy.
More unusual... Pursuing its desire to discover the heritage of Breton saints, the Valley of Saints will have grouped together 174 monumental statues of Breton saints sculpted in granite by 2023.
And finally, why not sit in one of the first steam rooms of the Middle Ages which was used as a bath for the nobles in the castle of Guémené-sur-Scorff? Les Bains de la Reine explains all about hygiene in these historic times.
A tempting gastronomy
Since people also come to Brittany for its cuisine, don't miss the crêpes and galettes in the crêperies of central Brittany. The Crêperie Gourmande label guarantees the quality of the typical products. And don't forget: here, we say "Froment" and "Blé noir" for the sweet and salty ones!
You will also have heard of the famous andouille de Guémené. It is traditionally made and smoked in Guémené-sur-Scorff, and you can try it out with some local cider.
And as far as drinks are concerned, cider from the local orchards should be tried, as well as local beers (such as Grobul, Coreff or Aedr) and to enjoy a typically Breton drink with moderation, Chouchen, a mead or honey alcohol, is a perfect match for Guémené andouille.
