Route du Sable Festival from Tregarvan to Chateaulin on the Aulne River
It is always fun to discover the region through community events centred around an activity. For eleven years now the community of Rosnoën on the Aulne river, just 43km by road (on the way toward Brest) from Douarnenez hosts a small boat festival in June retracing the path of sand barges bringing up sand to Chateaulin.
Route du Sable poster
This year the Route du Sable will take place on the 13th & 14th of June 2015 and they have mapped out the itnerary with great viewpoints along the way. Or if you plan ahead you can get on as a passenger on some larger traditional wooden boats starting in Port de Tinduff and Brest.
Map of the cirtuitfrom Rodaven to ChateaulinBoaters taking a break along the way on the Aulne river.Arriving in ChateaulinPort-Launay along the Aulne River (2012 event photo)
View towards the plage du Ris, Tresmalaouen and Kervel
As the rain drizzles down and the days get shorter, this is a moment where I like to recall my favourite places in the sun.
Walking at low tide on the fine hard packed sand if you time it right can lead you on a long walk that can string up several beaches for several kilometres.
This is a beautiful canal ride called the Kreiz Breizh that connects the Loire Atlantic, through the Morbihan to the Finistère. The route design begins in Nantes and ends in Brest, it appears fairly easy to connect to other cycling routes that would end in Douarnenez.
320km of the total 360km journey are along the canal towpath through the countryside, far from the busy roads and beach-side destinations.
The Australian online magazine has published some amazing pictures of the Tro-Bro Léon road race (it almost looks like cyclocross) in the region of Léon North of Brest in the Finistère of Brittany. The race takes place in April every year since 1984. Cycling is very popular in Brittany and has great participation in its events. Note that five time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault was from Brittany.
A Canadian won the race for the first time in 2012 (Ryan Roth).
If you want to check it out live next year, we have a house in Douarnenez which is only 1 hour’s drive away that is available for weekly rentals. (Contact me if you are interested)
The Australian website Cycling Tips has posted some amazing pictures of the very “pittoresque” Tro-Bro Léon road race (almost looks like cyclocross) in the region of Léon North of Brest in the Finistère of Brittany. The race takes place in April every year since 1984. Cycling is very popular in Brittany and has great participation in its events. Five time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault is from Yffiniac in the Côtes-d’Armor department not too far to the east from Lannilis where the race takes place. In other words although the Tour spends lots of time in the Alps and the Pyrénées for good reason, the heart of cycling in France might be in Brittany.
Tro-Bro Léon cycling race around Lanillis in the North Finisère
A Canadian Ryan Roth won the race for the first time in 2012, with Guillaume Boivin also on the podium the same year in third place.
Tro-Bro Léon cycling raceTro Bro Léon cycling race 20142014 Tro Bro Léon cycling race2014 Tro Bro Léon cycling race
If you want to check it out live next year, the Plomarc’h Bleuniou house in Douarnenez is only 1 1/2 hour’s drive away & is available for weekly rentals.
If you are looking for information about the maritime trades or businesses related to the sea. The Maritime Federation of the bay of Douarnenez is your best bet.
July 24 to 27th 2014 Douarnenez will host its bi-annual maritime festival Temps des Fête:
In 2012 they had a record 1200 boats participate in the festival with over 100,000 people attending more than 60 shows and programs throughought the three ports of Douarenenez & Treboul
I just came accross this wonderful historic recreation of the traditional collection of “goemon” which is a type of seeweed on the Brittany coast near Plouguerneau which is about an hour and twenty minutes away from Douarnenez to the north of the city of Brest.
Check out this beautiful facebook album on the historic process.
The demonstration farm in the Plomarc’h next to the town of Douarnenez was renovated in 2013 as reported in the Télégramme.
Here is a link to the municipality of Douarnenez’s website for the “ferme des Plomarc’h” programming.
The farm serves as a “gite rural” with a stable of heritage breed farm animals from Brittany. They allow free access to all the paddocks and the garden and during the year offer educational programming for adults and children.
A superb article in french on the history of the Plomar’h by Michel Mazeas. It is particularly detailed on the gallo roman period and sardine salting ponds that created garum.
Plomarc'h Bleunioù: the flower of the Plomarc'h 