The local area

There are lots of great facilities and interesting places right on the door-step of the cottages, and we've put a few details of some of them here.  (In addition, there are many fascinating places to visit either by bike or by car, and details can be found under 'The Local Area'.)

Castennec

Click for bigger image

The cottages are located in the hamlet of Castennec - the site of an ancient Roman settlement.  Castennec is situated at the top of the hill above St Nicholas des Eaux (Morhiban) through which the river Blavet flows on its way from Pontivy down to the south coast of Brittany at Lorient.

Art in the local
chapel. Click for
bigger image

From June to September each summer, the many local chapels throughout the region are used as the backdrop for artists to exhibit their innovative "art installations".  There are four routes taking the visitor from chapel to chapel and plans of the routes and details of opening hours together wih information about the artists and their works are available at any of the chapels (including La Trinité, which is just 100yds from the cottages - see picture on the right).  Many a happy afternoon can be spent discovering these forgotten and hidden away architectural and historical gems.  See here for more information.

The esplanade at St Nicolas.
Click for bigger image.

Just 2 minutes drive from the houses, or a delightful 10 minutes walk through the woods, is the pretty village of St Nicholas des Eaux.

Here the river Blavet provides a beautiful setting for boat trips, kayaking, or just sitting at one of the river-side cafés enjoying a coffee or a meal.

From here you can walk or cycle either north or south for many miles along the river's towpath.

Click here for some more information about St Nicolas (and other aspects of the Blavet river).

There is also a well-stocked épicerie - "Le Relais du Père Nicolas" - which sells a wide range of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, wine and other drinks, and is a 'depot de pain' selling bread, croissants, pain au chocolat, etc.  Pere Relais de St Nicolas also sells local traditional produce, and is a tea salon with outside seating overlooking the river.

(There is a St Nicolas web site (in French) here - it has some interesting information, but doesn't seem to be kept completely up to date!)

St Nicodeme.
Click for bigger
image.

St Nicodeme

The extraordinary chapel of St Nicodeme is visible across the valley from the cottages' garden and is a short cycle ride, or brief car drive away towards Plumeliau.

Walking

The walk down to St Nicolas.
Click for bigger image.

There is superb range of options for walking.  Starting from the cottages, you can walk down through beautiful woods to the side of the Blavet in St Nicolas des Eaux, or by walking in the other direction, you arrive at St Gildas - a chapel dating from the 15th century partly built into the side of the hill.  From St Nicolas there you can walk for miles on the flat of the river's towpath; or walk along country roads and paths towards (or for the keen all the way to) Pontivy.or for the keen all the way to) Pontivy.

More information

Here are a couple of french sites which have more information about the area: here  amd here .