In Cornouaille behind the scenes of breton art and craftsArt and matter in South Finistère

Trip idea

In Cornouaille behind the scenes of breton art and crafts

Just what you need. 3 days around Quimper, borne along by a breath of art mingled with salt sea breezes. Real fresh air. Concarneau, Locronan, Pont-Aven, towns of art boasting talents and ambiences that belong to them alone. Pottery, painting, cinema, knowhow: see for yourself – beauty reigns in South Finistère!

Suggestion for break in

3 days

At a glance

From Quimper to the banks of the Aven, keep your eyes wide open. Hewn in stone and bathed by the sea, the landscapes here have inspired artists and creators for centuries. Shall we follow in their footsteps? On a briny stroll through Concarneau’s port, in the wake of Gauguin and Sérusier in Pont-Aven… and in Locronan, a real open-air film set. And there’s no question of forgetting Quimper and its arts and crafts neighbourhood: what with pottery, textiles and embroidery, it’s a whole bowlful of creative energy!

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Quimper, Locronan : d’une perle bretonne à l’autre

Degemer mat! Today, you set down your bags in Quimper, City of Art and History with its three rivers. A peaceful start to your stay with a quick tour through the cobbled streets of its historic heart. As you’ve already seen from a distance, all roads lead to Saint-Corentin Cathedral. Flamboyant! What a steeple! Then it’s you who do the seeing: you continue on your way, taking in the Ramparts Garden and the Odet’s quays… or save something for tomorrow and set a course (by bus or by car) for the little town of Locronan. A stone setting where some 30 films have been shot. Granite houses, cobbled alleyways … Nothing to match it. The many artists and craftspeople who’ve made their home here weren’t mistaken. Talk to them about its magic. Discussion guaranteed!

As for spending the night in Quimper, we recommend the Ginkgo in the Locmaria neighbourhood and the Kregenn between the railway station and the city centre. And if you’d prefer a B&B, head for the Banellou.
If you feel like a bite to eat in Locronan, you can’t go wrong with Odette, or with Ty Coz if a crepe’s what you’re after.

Pottery, embroidery, cidery, crepery… Quimper is to die for !

The day dawns over the Locmaria neighbourhood. They’ve been making pottery here for 300 years, knowhow perpetuated by the Faïencerie Henriot-Quimper. The techniques are the same but everything’s different these days. They still create and paint Breton bowls by hand here, but the traditional naïve touches are now combined with contemporary design.
Right next door, there’s the School of Embroidery Art founded by Pascal Jaouen. And while you’re at it… everyone off to the Biscuiterie de Quimper: their super-thin, super-crunchy crêpes dentelles are an unmissable gourmet treat!
The afternoon’s getting on? It’s time to hit the Cider Road, with a mandatory stop at the Manoir du Kinkiz. Cider, apple juice, vinegars and spirits (in moderation of course): it’s a great place and you get a really warm welcome. To end the day on the same note, back to Quimper, at the Sistrot, to laze the evening away with a generous helping of conviviality on the side: it’s just the cider bistro for you!

The AOP Cider Road in Cornouaille comprises 7 tourist itineraries taking in South Finistère’s towns, villages, beaches and emblematic sites, with the possibility of learning a thousand and one things talking to local producers.
You’re more of a beer person? At Only Bears in the historic city centre, local brews await you (in moderation… and with slices of sausage to wash down)!

Pont-Aven, Concarneau… can you see the painting?

The colourful comings and goings of fishing boats near the quays… they’ve inspired painters since the 1850s. And this morning, it’s a truly dazzling sight! You’ve headed to Concarneau, 25 minutes from Quimper. Once you’ve made your way to Place Duquesne, board the ferry and off you go to the Closed City. Cross the drawbridge and instant immersion in the historic heart of the “Blue City”.
In the afternoon, a change of scenery. Pont-Aven, the “city of painters” awaits you, tucked away in its estuary. A maze of alleyways, washhouses and lights. 140 years have passed by the rocks in the river yet something’s still afloat: the shadows of Gauguin, Sérusier and Maufra. Take a look round the Museum: they’re all there, the artists of the Pont-Aven School, dominating its collections. Back to base? No question if you haven’t tried Traou Mad – “good things” in Breton: pure salted butter cookies, pure happiness!

For a different way of discovering Concarneau, explore the city with your eyes open: the full-scale “Abgrall Mystery” treasure hunt has what it takes.
At lunchtime, Riec-sur-Bélon is well worth the detour. Chez Jacky in the port. And Les Huitrières du Château de Bélon farm’s flat oysters are a delight. L’Atelier Mélanie is a top-of-the tops gourmet treat too!

We like!

Locmaria, Quimper’s arts and crafts neighbourhood that has it all: greenery, craftsmanship, art, heritage, gastronomy, and more besides…
Follow in the footsteps of Pont-Aven’s painters, from the Gloanec guesthouse to the Bois d’Amour, the “wood of love” where they set up their easels. Pay a visit to the Trémalo Chapel above the village: under its asymmetrical roof there’s a polychrome Christ that inspired Gauguin for his famous Yellow Christ.

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