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About St. Brieuc
Brittany has a wonderful selection of towns to visit. Quimper and Dina delight visitors with their medieval quarters, Josselin with its castle and St Malo with its spectacular coastal setting.
See a panoramic view of St Brieuc: www.loecsen.com
St Brieuc is especially attractive because of its setting; it has developed between the steep sided valleys of the R.Gouedic to the east and the R. Gouet to the west. The best place from which to admire the view is the Notre-Dame mound to the north west. From here, you can visit the Outdoor Theatre and the Grandes Promenades Gardens by the Law Courts.
St-Brieuc was one of the Welsh missionaries who came to Armorica in the 6th century. He is said to have landed with 84 companions in what is now known as Legue, and he built his monastery on the triangular plateau overlooking the bay.
The main shopping street in Saint-Brieuc is the Rue Saint-Guillaume named after the 13th century bishop of the town. Not far from this is St Stephen’s Cathedral, an impressive building, reminiscent of a fortress and was once used as a stronghold. The two towers date from the 14th Century and have slit-windows and a parapet walk. St Brieuc’s streets around the cathedral contain several houses with beautiful overhanging upper levels.
From the town centre, you can go down to the pretty Legue Harbour and, from there, take a stroll in the picturesque Gouet Valley.
The Bay of Saint Brieuc has
7km of landscapre full of biological interest; major wintering ground where it is easy to watch migrating birds such as geese, ducks and shorebirds and, after the summer mating period, sanpipers and stints. Nature outings during July, August and School Holidays.
Binic
This old fishing village was France’s main harbour for Newfoundland deep sea fishing in the 19th century.
Day trips available on the ferry depart/return to Binic Harbour July to September.
Historical costumes, head-dressed, crafts. Butter and cider production. Flax and buckwheat cultivation.
Fete de la Morue Cod Festival, takes place in May or June depending on the tides.
Paimpol
Harbour town influenced by 19th Century Newfoundland and Iceland deep-sea fishing and immortalised by Pierre Loti; lively quays, shipowners houses; Place du Martray, 16th century dwellings; Musee de la Mer (Maritime Museum); Musee de Costume (Costume Museum).
Beauport Abbey, partly restored 13th century abbey of the Premontre orders is an exceptional coastal setting with abbey-church, chapter house and store room open all year round with contemporary Breton music and song on Thursdays in July
Sea shanty festival, every other year (next one 2009)
For an interactive map see:
www.loecsen.com
Events in St. Brieuc
Cité Rap
Regional meeting of urban cultures
27 October to 3 November, St. Brieuc
Discover the wealth of hip hop culture: concerts, graffiti, writing, internationally renowned graffiti artists, dj'ing. Battle dance, slam concerts and artist performances in the centre of the the city and its districts for a week.
Website: www.citerap.fr
Art Rock Festival
8th to 11th May, St. Brieuc
An International festival located in the center of the town. This event attracts about 40 000 people over 3 days.
Website: www.artrock.org
Brest International Maritime Festival
The Brest International Maritime Festival will be taking place from 11th to 17th July 2008. "From morning till night, hundreds of sailboats, all different, cast off, sail and race, then they return to the harbour, with thousands of sailors onboard. Nautical activities, spontaneous or organised, follow one after the other within the harbour shelter, to the great delight of visitors on the quays."
The festival also celebrates Brittany’s heritage, shipyards, builders, craftsmen, community life, and more... www.brest2008.fr |
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