This page is a summary of all the places where we reckon you can have a trip out with a family of four locally in Brittany for less than £10 for all of you- two adults a child and an infant. Obviously this doesen`t include your lunch and nibbles. It`s just the cost of the trip !!!
The Beach
This is a bit of cheat really as the beach is
obviously free. Go to Damgan you can have a great day out and spend
virtually nothing. Even the parking's free !!
Boating on
the River Ouest
Go to Malestroit and hire a pedallo or a rowing
boat and take a leisurely trip up the river.
Children's Boat Hire
Go to St Malo de Beignon and visit he miniature port. Children can go out by
themselves (or with you) on an eight acre lake specially designed to be safe
and secure for them (they wear life jackets). There are miniature ferries,
tug boats, steamers and even Mississippi paddleboats. All safety equipment
is supplied on site. Afterwards take a walk round the lake and buy an ice cream
or a drink in the shop.
Carrentoir
Lake
Nip up the road to Carrentoir and the children can play on the sandy beach there.
Afterwards they can play on the swings, see saws and assault course whilst you
get a drink or have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the lake. Afterwards
hire pedallos and go for a trip around the lake.
Cider Making
Alternatively go to the Maison du Cidre at Ploermel and see how
it used to be made. Old straw presses (see photo) are used to crush the
apples, (not to mention the barefoot method). There`s also a large museum
of cider making at Le Hezo.
Sweet Making
At La Maison d`Armorine in Quiberon there is an `artisanal` sweetmaker where
old fashioned sweets and chocolates are still made in the traditional way.
You can see the sweets being hand crafted and actually help with the work.
Go to the town of La Gacilly and see the glass blower in action. Its free and extremely interesting. Wander round the shop and buy some unique hand made items– prices are very reasonable. There`s also another glass blowers in Saint-Meloir des Ondes.
Kerguehennec
Sculpture Park
Located at Bignan near Josselin. This sculpture Park and contemporary art centre
is definitely worth a visit and it`s free. Basically it is a large chateau (below
piccy) set in hundreds of acres of gardens with numerous sculptures dotted around.
The sculptures are all by contemporary artists and range from the bizarre looking
thing in the photo below to stone carvings and an odd creation of 1000 red plant
pots. It probably sounds a bit alternative and indeed it is. In addition, there
is a rolling art exhibition in part of the chateau, again of modern art. We recommend
that you take a picnic, as the grounds are a beautiful place to sit and eat lunch.
Silk Production
Go to Campel and discover the secrets of silk. See its `birth`, its
harvesting and processing. There`s a one hour guided tour
(in English) devoted to the history of the silk road. There are
living silkworms and contemporary creations in silk.
Pottery
The village of St-Jean-la Poterie near Redon is the place to visit if you like
a bit of pottery. See the potters at work then visit the exhibition and shop.
There's also a pottery at Lizio and at Chapelle Caro.
You can walk round the village following the `trail of the sculptures` through the woods. You`ll see all the creations of previous years works.
Festival and Fetes
These are all free to visit. Best take a look at
the `fetes & festivals` page for the full list.
Megaliths
Monteneuf is famous in Brittany for its `standing stones`. There are dozens of
the mysterious huge megaliths in a small area just outside the village. The
stones, which range in size from 100 kilos to over 30 tons, are made from schist
(see photo). In addition, an authentic `bronze age` village has been created
around them to give the feel of mediaeval France. An extensive network of marked
paths specially designed for walkers and cyclists lead off from the stones.
Yves
Rocher perfume factory
Here you can have a guided tour in English and see the perfume being made. Afterwards,
take a walk around their extensive gardens where the exotic plants for the perfume
are grown. On the way out, stop off at their factory outlet shop and snap up
some bargains.
Mini Train Tour of Vannes
To see Vannes the easy way, take the thirty minute
tour on the little train that leaves from the port every hour, our kids
loved it. Alternatively, just take it easy and sit outside at one of the
waterfront cafes and watch it all pass you by.
Childrens
playgrounds
There`s quite a few of these around. E.g At Reminiac,
Monteneuf, Guer, Malestroit or St Congard (below)
Chateau de Josselin
With its three majestic towers this chateau dominates the valley of the River
Ouest. Its striking gothic design is well worth a look. Take a guided tour
and look and learn about its fascinating history (English tours as well as
French).
Malestroit Market....with
crepes
On Thursday morning take a trip to the large market
in Malestroit town square. There`s loads of fresh food for sale. Check
out the numerous fresh fish and cheese stalls. Buy some heads of garlic
and then go to the crepe stall. Buy four takeaway crepes for less than
two euros for four people and then find somewhere to sit and soak up
the atmosphere.
General stuff
It goes without saying that visiting all the local
towns, going walking and cycling are all free !!!
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