REGIONS: Brittany, France

Brittany Cruise Highlights

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Brittany’s waterways wind through the heart of a land steeped in history and tradition. From grand châteaux and cobbled market squares to rolling countryside and artisan crafts, this is a region that feels wonderfully authentic. With a distinct culture and proud maritime heritage, Brittany offers a fascinating blend of Celtic roots and French refinement.

This unique Brittany cruise itinerary combines the charm of small villages with memorable excursions. Embark on a journey between Château de Josselin and the flower-filled streets of Rochefort-en-Terre to a Michelin-starred dining experience and a traditional cider tasting. Along the way, you’ll enjoy peaceful cruising, regional cuisine, and the gentle rhythms of rural France.

Château de Josselin

The Château de Josselin has been the residence of the Rohan family since the Middle Ages and is one of the most famous castles in Brittany.

The building of the first castle began around 1008 on a rocky promontory overlooking the valley of the Oust. The site chosen for the castle was excellent from both military and commercial points of view.

Over the centuries, the castle has been torn down and rebuilt many times.

In the 18th century, it was no longer occupied as a seat of power. During the years of the French Revolution and the First French Empire, it became a prison and a warehouse. In 1822, Caroline, Duchess of Berry, persuaded the then Duke of Rohan, Louis-François de Rohan-Chabot to restore it. Thus, they entirely restored its sculpted granite façade built in the Renaissance and its interiors in the 19th century.

The Château de Josselin in Modern Times

The estate with its medieval remains, including its three defensive towers overlooking the Nantes à Brest canal, its flamboyant Gothic sculpted granite facade, and its fully restored interiors, is inhabited but open to visitors. Surrounding the castle, you will find a landscaped garden of more than three hectares with its rose garden featuring forty varieties, its French-style garden, and its English park crossed by a stream.

In the Château’s former stables, the Doll and Toy Museum showcases the collection of Duchess Herminie de Rohan. Each year, a thematic exhibition completes the permanent exhibition. Around 600 dolls and their accessories are on display, as well as numerous toys and games.

Menhirs de Monteneuf

Photo: Wikimedia Commons – François de Dijon CC-SA 2.0

Menhirs de Monteneuf

The archaeological and natural heritage of Monteneuf’s moorland is remarkable. The standing stones of Monteneuf in the middle of the gorse and heather, date back to the beginning of time. They stand close to the forest of Paimpol and add an extra touch of enchantment to the landscape.

These megaliths haven’t always pointed skywards. In the year 1000, the church toppled the stones because officials considered them too pagan and lacking biblical basis. It was only in the 1980s, that archaeologists raised the stones back to their upright position.

Between the years 4,500 and 3,000 BC, man’s first farmers sowed more than 420 megaliths across moorlands of the Paimpont Forest, also known as the mystical Brocéliande Forest. These purple schist and lichen monoliths stand in seven east-to-west rows within clearings, where gorse and short grass grow at their feet.. Nestled beneath the nearby trees are dolmens (stones lying flat on the ground) and burial chambers.

Archaeologists are excavating a menhir on the 7.5-hectare Menhirs of Monteneuf site. At this archaeological site there are reconstructions, engineering techniques, and various workshops, about prehistoric man.

Le Vignoble de Rhuys – Dantelezh