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Tréguier
Tréguier is classed a petite cité de caractère, or a town of some historical interest. It is situated between the rivers Jaudy and the Guindy and is a popular boating destination. It is famous for its cathedral, half-timbered houses, pardons and processions.
The cathedral situated in the centre of town, is one of the finest in Brittany, and was built between the 12th and 15th Centuries. It was constructed on a hill and has a wonderful open stone spire, which can be seen for miles around. The houses range from the 12th Century and it is the timber-framed houses, which make the central square of Tréguier so picturesque.
A Pardon in Brittany signifies a feast of the patron saint of a church or chapel. They are not to be found further east than Guingamp, which holds its Pardon on the first Sunday in July. Along with the pardon of St Yves at Tréguier ‘the Pardon of the poor,’ there are five others occurring in Brittany between March and October. Regional costumes and Breton music usually accompany each pardon. Every Wednesday in August, the square at Tréguier is the venue for open-air music and processions from mid afternoon until the early hours when Breton pipes can be heard throughout the town.
Tréguier was founded in the 6th century by Saint-Tugdual/Tudwal a Welsh monk and one of the seven founding saints of Brittany.
St-Yves was born in Tréguier in 1253 and went on to be the Patron saint of lawyers. A procession is held on the third Sunday of May in his honour.
Ernest Renan (1823-1892), the philosopher was born in Tréguier. The house where he was born is now a museum.
Ile de Bréhat
The island of Bréhat, located on the wild coast of Brittany, is a place of contrasts. Carved by the wind and the waves contrasting with the softness of its hinterland and private gardens. Footpaths, which crisscross the island, lead the walker to the mill of Birlot, glassmaking workshops and the lighthouse. The quaint village centre is a perfect place to stop and take a break and drink a cool beer under the shade of an umbrella or the numerous plane trees.
Historically the people of Bréhat, the Bréhatins were corsairs and whalers but later fishing became the mainstay of the economy. In 1409, the English invaded Bréhat, destroyed the castle and slaughtered the defenders and the inhabitants. The Bréhatins were some of the first to sail far into the Atlantic in search of Cod and there is a legend that a Morlaix corsair based in Bréhat, John Coatenlem, may have told Christopher Columbus the way to the New World.
Click here to visit a photo gallery of the island
Lannion
Lannion is a sous-prefecture of the cotes d’Armor (County) and the capital of the Trégor (sub unit of a county), situated on the banks of the River Léguer. It is one of the major centres for Telecommunications in France and is the home of such companies as Alcatel and France Telecom. It is a charming town with a vibrant shopping centre and a good collection of shops and restaurants, which one would not usually expect to find in a town the size of Lannion.
Every Thursday there is a large Market spreading from the banks of the river up the hill into the main square selling local seasonal produce as well as the more usual market stalls selling jewellery clothing and household goods.