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Grande Briere National Park
| A veritable labyrinth of islands and water, la Brière is the second largest marsh land in France, after the Camargue. With its nearly 40,000 hectares of peat bogs, ponds, and canals the National Regional Park is home to an exceptional variety of animal life. As you walk through the park you'll get a chance to see the "tourist" villages of Saint-Malo-de-Guersac (lock-keeper's house) on the island of Fedrun, and the restored village of Kerhinet. Since the 1500s, the 17,000 hectares of la Brière have belonged to 21 independent communities. If you would like to wander off the "beaten path", take a stroll through the hamlets of Pentille, |
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Camerun, and Mayun... But to get the most out of your visit to the park the best way to go is by boat (chaland). These small boats are available for rent (with a guide) in the little ports of: île de Fédrun (Saint-Joachim), Port de Bréca (Saint-Lyphard), Port de la Chaussée Neuve (Saint-André-des-Eaux), Port des Fossés Blancs (La Chapelle-des-Marais), Port des Prises du Coin (Herbignac).
Information about your visit to the park :
-Price per person to visit the park on a "chaland" with a guide (who propels the boat along with a pole) (or sometimes with a motor) 100 to 150FF. For more than three people, the price drops to 40F for each additional person.
- If you'd like to see the park on foot, you can take advantage of the many well marked trails. You can even take a three-day walking tour of the Grande Brière. In the winter and spring, some of the trails may not be accessible because they are underwater.
Things to do
Beaches - There are numerous beaches to be found along the Breton coastline, from small secluded coves to the large resorts of La Baule.
Cycling or walking - can be enjoyed on the mostly level, quiet roads and lanes around our cottage, taking in the nearby villages, river Vilaine.Then there is the tow path of the Nantes - Brest canal to explore.
Fishing - Sea fishing along the coast in the many coves or in the bay of Morbihan or freshwater fishing in the river Vilaine or lakes (you can buy permits locally).
Boat trip - Take a boat trip on the river Vilaine which departs from Arzal, or go to Vannes and catch a boat to the outlying islands in the Gulfe du Morbihan. Or you can hire self drive motor boats which can carry up to 12 people.
Windsurfing and Sailing - Learn to windsurf or sail at damgan, or learn to sail with the Ecole Française de voile at the port of La Roche Bernard.
Grande Briere National Park - Have a guided tour or hire a punt yourself and explore the second largest wetland in France (after The Camargue).
St.Nazaire - Visit the the old submarine pens of the second world war, take a tour of a submarine, or book a visit to the shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique the birthplace of the Queen Mary 2.
Museum of the Breton Resistance - at St. Marcel, Malestroit, on the site of a battle in June 1944 in which the Breton Resistance with free French forces parachuted in from England, successfully diverted the local German troops from the Normandy Landings.
Yves Rocher Vegetarium and factory - at La Gacilly. This is where the beauty products empire has its roots. Yves Rocher has been the Mayor of La Gacilly since the 1950's, and is the patron of this pretty village crammed with artisan's shops.
Golf - There are numerous golf courses in the region from the 9 hole course (with par 5 holes and lakes) at Caden to the famous national course of La Bretesche at Missillac.
Wildlife - If you like your wildlife then you will be amazed at the variety of wildlife you can see. Birds- Finches, wrens, robins, sparrows swallows, house martins, kingfishers, black kites, marsh-harriers, egrets, warblers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, tree-creepers, goldcrests, turtle doves and hoopoes as well as owls, buzzards, kites, sparrowhawks, merlins and kestrels. Lizards run around including the salamander, there are deer, wild boar, pine martins and red squirrels.
There is also - Go-karting, paintballing, adventure parks, swimming pools and numerous other things that you will find in this part of Brittany. |
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