Itineraries 2011

 

 


Day 1 Redon

We will meet you at our agreed pick up point, and then transport you to the starting point of your cruise..
Redon is at the crossroads of the Brittany waterways network, and stands at the junction of the River
Vilaine (which runs from St.Malo in the North to Arzal on the south coast of Brittany) and the
Nantes a Brest canal which runs East-West.
Redon is an important historical town and has many riches, particularly in the old town.

The Saint-Saveur Abbey founded by the monk Conwoin in 832 brought cultural glory and riches to the town.
It was added to and modified up until the 17th century.
Redon also hosts the excellent Inland Water Transport Museum .
If you want to learn more about the waterways you are about to travel,
there is an excellent video presentation in English that details the history of the waterways.
Settle in, and then enjoy a short cruise to a quiet countryside location where
you can enjoy your welcome champagne dinner on board, and we can discuss your cruise in detail.

Day 2. La Gacilly

La Gacilly River Oust at JosselinBreton cottage
We head west up the canal de Nantes a Brest through Isle au Pies (Magpie Islands) a famous beauty spot. Its rocky cliffs and sheltered waters provide a playground for rock climbers and canoeists. We next stop at the village of St Martin, home of an artisan cider maker. You can try this local speciality and buy direct from the producers.
From here we will take you to the town of La Gacilly.
The old main street of this town has been converted over the years into a haven for artists and craftsmen. Each shop now houses a different skill with its own workshop. From glassblowing to wood carvers to artists,onyx workers,
leather workers, woodturners, engravers, jewellers and musicians; La Gacilly has it all.
In addition, the famous Yves Rocher beauty products are based here as well as Europes first 'vegetarium', a museum dedicated to the plant world.
The whole village is decorated with flowers, and also hosts a major photography exhibition with large and spectacular photographs decorating the town. Definitely a trip not to missed.

Day3. St Martin towards Malestroit.

We now pass through beautifully unspoilt countryside and natural woodland as we head towards Malestroit. Founded in 978, this medieval town with its winding streets has many half timbered houses with overhanging gables liberally decorated with wood carvings.
We arrive at Malestroit in time for lunch and a guided tour around the town. In the afternoon we take you to the gorgeous village of Rochefort en Terre. This picturesque spot is officially listed as one of only 15 entries in 'Frances most beautiful villages' and won the 'best flower display' so many times that it was banned from entering again!
Malestroit Brittany'medieval ' bandHare playing bagpipes carving

A street market,(Thursday morning) regular musical events and a lively atmosphere make Malestroit a must-visit.At nearby St Marcel is an excellent museum devoted to the resistance struggle in the second world war. Allow a half day if you wish to visit. We often also visit the nearby standing stones at Monteneuf. This smaller version of Carnac was discovered only 30 years ago after a forest fire revealed the alignments.Extensive searches have now revealed over 200 menhirs (upright stones) and several burial sites.
Dinner can be taken in one of the varied restaurants in town.

Day 4

A gentle day pottering our way through several small villages stopping for bread at Le Roc St Andre with its gothic church standing high on a rocky bluff overlooking the river, or pretty little Montertelot. We stop wherever the fancy takes us, perhaps at the ancient little village of St Gobrien with its 10thC church and some of the oldest houses in the entire region.. In the evening we choose a quiet countryside mooring and either provide your evening meal there or we can take you to a lovely little countryside restaurant. Sit on deck and listen to nothing but the sound of the birds.

Day 5. Towards Josselin

We now pass through some of the prettiest countryside on your cruise. Meadows come down to the river and the river winds through natural woodland. We arrive at one of the best and most famous canal views in France. As we round a bend in the river Oust you see the magnificent chateau of the Rohan family towering above the river.
After negotiating the lock we moor below the chateau walls and Josselin is waiting for you. In the afternoon you can either continue your explorations round the medieval streets or we can take you to see Chateau Kerguehennac, an 18thC chateau that has recently been restored. It is surrounded by extensive gardens and is host to a superb arboretum.The upstairs rooms of the chateau are used as an art gallery.

Rochefort en TerreCruising the Nantes a Brest canal barging on the Nantes a Brest canal

Day 6 Josselin Cruising Brittany, France


You will doubtless want to spend some time investigating Josselin. Its pretty streets, the ancient church, timbered medieval houses, the excellent large street market(saturday mornings), the museum in the chateau itself with France's largest collection of historic dolls, the street cafes and variety of interesting family run shops;
Josselin is, in many ways, the heart of the region. Choose from an excellent range of restaurants for your evening meal. If we are here on a Saturday morning, a favourite thing to do is to pick the best that the market has to offer and we all have a big 'market lunch' with seafood, fresh roast chicken, country pate and sausage etc.
From an upmarket yet reasonable restaurant high above the river or a waterside 'creperie', Josselin has them all .

 

Libje at Josselin Chateau.Libje at RocSt Andrechateau Suscinio

Alternatively, we can take you down to the south coast of Brittany to visit the historic walled town of Vannes with its chic shops and impressive gardens. Perhaps you might also be tempted with a visit to the stunning fortified chateau at Suscinio which once belonged to the Dukes of Brittany. If however you love just sitting back and taking in the waterways then we can continue cruising through increasingly rural surroundings to the little village of Cadoret. We stop en-route to take in the gorgeous little ancient village of Pomeleuc.

Day 7

After breakfast on board we say goodbye to Libje and take you on to Rennes or Redon by car for your onward journey.


Depending on the previous cruise, the above itinerary might be reversed.

Dont forget though, this is your cruise and your hard earned break. We are happy to modify the above suggestions. If you want to linger or take in more of any particular stop we can do it. Likewise if you want to do less cruising and enjoy more excursions, we can do it. Alternatively, if you want to see as much of the countryside by water as you can, extending the cruise to Rohan, and miss out on some of the excursions we can do that too.




A second cruise option would be to start at the district capital of Rennes which is a lively university town with a
medieval heart and numerous award winning restaurants. We would then travel down the River Vilaine
which is often described as the most beautiful river in France.
Depending on the number of stops we would end the cruise at Redon or take in some of the Nantes a Brest canal.


Suggested excursions

As well as the above suggested itineraries, we can organise day trips to the medieval walled city of Vannes for some of the smartest shops in the region and a yachting harbour that reaches right up to the old city gates.

Also nearby is the beautiful old town of Auray which has an up market shopping centre and it's ancient harbour with a good selection of restaurants alongside a river. Benjamin Franklin landed here to sign an accord with the French.

The important megalithic sites at Carnac that are thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited place in the world with over 2,000 menhirs (large stones) that stretch over 4 Km and pre-date the Egyptian pyramids.

Just a selection of other more local visits that may prove of interest are Breton cider producers,
an exhibition of moving mechanical sculptures, local markets and chateaux, The megaliths of Monteneuf where a Roman road passes within yards of a large megalithic site only discovered 30 years ago. Church and museum visits, the waterways exhibition, formal gardens and an arboretum

Visit the Spanish influenced port of St Louis with it's exhibitions devoted to the 'East Indies trade' , the marine museum as well as an excellent exhibition by the French Lifeboat institution.

If you are interested in Brittany's war years there is the resistance museum at St Marcel. One of Frances major vehicle museums is at nearby Loheac and hosts much more than just cars. A working Medieval village, a visit to the south coast for a seafood lunch overlooking the island strewn gulf of Morbihan, In Brittany, the list goes on and on. There are links to many of these attractions on our links page.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, we are very flexible in our itinerary and can tailor the
experience to your particular interests. Just email us to discuss your barge holiday and ask for a quote.


We can also organise special charters such as a seafood cookery cruise.
Learn how to choose, buy, prepare and cook seafood.
Cruise as you enjoy Brittany's bounty!


Fancy more than a cruise?

Why not treat yourself to a weeks stay at these gorgeous thatched cottages to unwind and then go cruising to get the full Brittany experience? Our good friends Neil and Tricia Young have renovated these cottages to a very high standard and have then added a whole new dimension to a Gite holiday by offering complimentary health and beauty treatments as well as a raft of other options. We really can recommend a stay here. You can see more at their website at www.brittanythatchedcottages.com

Brittant Thatched Cottages

 

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