Welcome to (Coat ar Pont ar
C'hoat)
Places of Interest
and Activities
Sailing,
windsurfing, swimming, fishing (both sea and freshwater), golf,
canal boating, riding, walking, bowling, go-karting, tree
traversing high wire adventure park,
horse riding and cycling are just a few of the activities
available within an easy drive from the gite.
The clean sandy beaches are within easy reach on traffic free
roads, The Rose Granite coastline with spectacular walks and fish
restaurants are approx. 45 minutes away.
Restaurants, horse riding, walking, fishing and cycling are just
some of the past times you can indulge in, or simply amble through
pretty forests or visit the local Creperies. Superb shopping in
the cities of Morlaix, Quimper, Rennes and Vannes or opt for picturesque
fishing villages with a picnic of cheeses, pate, baguette and
wine.
If it's history that's your passion, then look no further, from
Roman occupation to World War II, it's all here.
There are also excellent facilities and activities for smaller children.
Brittany
The peninsular of Brittany on the far north west coast of France
is a region defined not only by its geography but by its people,
their traditions and their ancient Celtic heritage. The Breton
language is still widely spoken and its origin is closer to the
Celtic languages of their Cornish, Welsh and Irish cousins.
 Like
many people living near the sea the Bretons have developed a
culture rich in myth and legend, music and folk art. You can walk
through the magical forest of Broceliande, home of Merlin, where
King Arthur and his Knights came on their search for the Holy
Grail. Or visit the forest of Huelgoat with its mysterious giant
rocks, its grottos and streams and its tales of giants and
goblins. Other legends include the story of Tristram and Iseult (Tristan
and Isolde) which inspired Wagner’s opera.
This Breton belief in legend combined with Christianity to produce
a profound reverence for the saints and the famous ‘pardons’,
religious festivals with processions, mostly take place between
May and September. It is during these processions that you may
have the chance to see some of the great variety of richly
embroidered local costumes. The pardons are celebrated with much
dancing and music using traditional instruments such as the Celtic
harp, Breton bagpipes, drums and flutes.
The Cote d’Emeraude (Emerald Coast) runs west along the north
coast of Brittany from Mont Saint-Michel, the vast cathedral
dedicated to the Archangel Michael built on a rock that can only
be reached at low tide. There are a number of harbour towns and
fine beaches from St. Malo and Dinard to St.-Brieuc, all linked by
a coastal road. Take time to visit Dinan a little inland from St.
Malo, which lies at the mouth of the River Rance. Its old town,
cobbled streets and city walls give it an old world air and there
are many good restaurants.
Further along, the coves and inlets of the Cote de Granite Rose (
The Pink Granite Coast ) are formed as the name suggests by rose
tinted rocks beaten by the sea into fantastic shapes.
The wild headland of Finistere looks out to where the Atlantic
meets the Channel. Brest with its fine natural harbour is the
beginning of the west coast of Brittany where the Atlantic is
warmed by the Gulf Stream and stretches down to the Cote
d’Armour at the Mouth of the Loire. Good beaches and resorts.
Inland Brittany has a very different landscape. Valleys, forest,
heathland and a network of rivers and canals. There are scattered
farms and villages, the fields marked out by hedgerows forming
distinctive patterns, connected by a cobweb of lanes.
 Carhaix Plouger
Carhix offers everything from extensive shopping to adventure
parks aimed at all ages includes indoor go-karting modern
swimming pool with large slide, bowling, sauna and spa and the
highly recommended local adventure park offering high wire
traversing through the woodlands and zip wire across the lakes,
the canal walks in and around Carhaix are easy going and
breathtaking in their beauty.
Huelgoat This
place is a must to visit, only 20mins away from the gite and
offers the most fantastic walks through boulder strewn ravines
and grottos, woodland paths to the tranquil lake that dominates
the town, local creperies and restaurants offer excellent food
alongside the waters edge.
Huelgoat is famed for its tourist industry and outstanding
natural beauty, there are many places to visit here including a
honey farm which give tours and you can purchase locally
produced honey.
Morlaix
 Morlaix is a very large town with every type of shop you could
imagine, but, if sight seeing is your thing, this town was built
up from a very early date and is spanned by a huge three story
viaduct still in use today. If planning to visit this historic
town it is suggested a Saturday is the best day as it offers an
incredible street market which commandeers the entire town
centre and sells everything you could imagine, a boating marina
is a central part of the whole atmosphere of this must visit
place.
Callac
 Callac`s Lac de la Vallée Verte, with an area of 8 hectares, is
a central feature of the town and particularly popular with both
novice and experienced fishermen. In the summer there are
competitions which draw large numbers of participants from
around the Callac area and there is a small sandy area ideal for
children, as well as a mini golf course, basketball and tennis
courts and a roller-blading park. Similarly, Lac de Guerledan,
Brittany’s largest inland body of water is only 1h from Callac
and has several interesting freshwater fishing locations as well
as some beautiful nature trails and numerous water sports: water
skiing, kayaking and canoeing. Boat hire is available in both
areas, for individual and group fishing parties. There is a
superb selection of high quality and original golf courses close
to Callac. And the dramatic coastline of La Côte de Granite Rose
is only 40mins from Callac. With its long sandy beaches and
coppery pink granite rocks it is one of France’s favourite
holiday resorts.
Gorges du Corong is also an area of natural beauty featuring
giant boulders with streams cascading through the gorge. Only
15mins drive from Callac, this whole area is steeped in legends
of King Arthur. Visitors can walk through a wooded valley with
glacial rocks as high as a house balanced on each other and
picnic around a river bed which is completely covered with
granite boulders which you can climb over while the water flows
below. Armoripark at Begard, 30 mins from Callac, is great for
children both young an old. A family entertainment park with
swimming pool, water shoots, picnic areas, pedaloes, outside
toboggan, trampolines, archery, bowling, restaurants, bars and
terraces, it will never fail to entertain no matter how many
times visited.
Food and restaurants
Excellent fresh fish, fruit-de-mer, coquilles St. Jacques along
the coast. Savory and sweet galettes or crepes made from buckwheat
flour and stuffed with a variety of fillings. Agriculture is a
major industry and the markets offer an abundance of fresh fruit
and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and cheese. It is possible
to buy honey, eggs and milk directly from the farms.
Old-fashioned Breton cooking is not elaborate.
The crêpe is the basic everyday food and lobster is the primary
festive food. Crêpes come in 2 main varieties: crêpes sucrées
(sugared crêpes) and crêpes salées (salted crêpes). Cider is the
main drink and for dessert there is ‘Kouign Amann’ (butter cake)
which originated in the C19th.
Rendezvous Cafe & Bar - Callac - English food served/live
football on large screens/garden/terrace area/games/darts.
Tel: 02 96 45 92 74 - Gary
Le Moulin Blanc, Plougonver, tel: 02 96 21 60 81, traditional
family meals 15-40€
Les Fous - Carnoet - Large Terrace/garden/home cooked
meals/children’s menu
Tel: 02 96 21 52 32
Climate
Brittany has a typical maritime climate with warm summers and mild
winters. Average summer temperatures of around 70-80 degrees with
winter temperatures rarely falling below freezing especially in
the south of the region. |
