The stones worn by time and the steep little streets tell the story of this Small Town of Character. Clinging to the banks of the Vilaine, sometimes even built into the rocks, ancient residences descend to the old port. It’s an original urban landscape to say the least!
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Discover La Roche-Bernard
In around the year 1000, a lord built his castle on the rocky spur overlooking the Vilaine. La Roche-Bernard was created. Thanks to its strategic situation on the Vilaine river, its port activity developed from the Middle Ages, partly thanks to trading in cereals, wine, salt, etc. It reached its height at the end of the 19th century. In the Middle Ages, La Roche-Bernard already had fairs and markets and, as it was a place where the river met the roads from Nantes and Vannes or Redon, it developed the business of receiving and protecting travellers. After the Arzal dam was built, the port was converted to welcome pleasure boats.
Through the little streets
The old town, a small town of character, has many walks, meandering from old alleyways to belvederes with beautiful views. Chemin du Ruicard is particularly recommended, wandering through picturesque streets, some with stairs, lined with 16th and 17th century houses. Passage de la Quenelle leads to the beautiful Place du Bouffay with the Canon house.
The port is a place of heritage, traditions, and a little break on a terrace. Overlooking the narrow channel, buildings bring the maritime past back to life. Fishing, shipbuilding and cabotage are mentioned in the Musée de la Vilaine maritime in the large house called “Le Château”. The five storeys of this surprising building are built directly on the rock. A figurehead of the town’s architectural beauty!
Did you know
Will you go so high?
For a long time, Morbihan bridge was the southern gateway to Brittany. 370 metres long, its deck rests on an arch spanning 200 metres on which two footbridges allow anyone who dares to admire the site.
Get some height!
Your wanderings can take a surprising edge if you take the footbridge 40 metres above the Vilaine. It offers a unique viewpoint for some great photos! Next to the water and green fields, you can also go down the river to Arzal dam.
