Exploring Dinan and its environs in Brittany
Jan 17th, 2012, 06:32 PM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your photos are just beautiful....I have been to parts of "your trip"....in late spring...Brittany is
enchanting.....even in winter.....I want to go back & explore more of the region after seeing your report.
enchanting.....even in winter.....I want to go back & explore more of the region after seeing your report.
Jan 18th, 2012, 09:59 AM
#24
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! I was saving this until I knew I'd have the proper amount of time and attention to devote to it - of which your reports are always so deserving.
How lovely. Your photography is really stunning. I've barely scratched the surface in Brittany and that was many years ago. For some reason, it always falls off my radar. Obviously there's no good reason for that!
The only way I ever go to a cold destination in the winter is if there's a fireplace involved. Otherwise, it's a deal-breaker.
Speaking of, I gotta know: did you really take a picture of the fire each night? Because you know you could have used the same one and we would have been none the wiser. Just curious...
Thanks, FMT.
How lovely. Your photography is really stunning. I've barely scratched the surface in Brittany and that was many years ago. For some reason, it always falls off my radar. Obviously there's no good reason for that!
The only way I ever go to a cold destination in the winter is if there's a fireplace involved. Otherwise, it's a deal-breaker.
Speaking of, I gotta know: did you really take a picture of the fire each night? Because you know you could have used the same one and we would have been none the wiser. Just curious...
Thanks, FMT.
Jan 18th, 2012, 03:39 PM
#26
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just got through reading everything. Family and I plan on spending a total of 6 days total in Normandy and Brittany early July. Will TGV from Paris to somewhere in Normandy, rent a car and drive around. A little clueless but now I will include Dinan for the Brittany part.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Jan 18th, 2012, 07:39 PM
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your report was my entertainment this evening--thanks for posting so many pictures, I so enjoyed reading it all. We did some "where is the megalith" or dolmen searches similar to yours in Ireland.....
Jan 19th, 2012, 11:13 AM
#28
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the great report! It brought back so many wonderful memories of the dual nature of Brittany: the sea and the interior.
I noticed one of your meals was at a Logis de France affiliate. Even if we aren't staying at the hotel,which we do frequently, we keep one of their maps in our car and around lunchtime start looking for the nearest Logis options. We've never had a bad meal and only one that was just "ok"; most are very good, rapport qualité/prix we have found. Crepes and Kig ar Farz, now you're talking home cooking, along with fish soup and Breton Far, plump with prunes. A little cider and Hydromel...I'm salivating just thinking about the simple goodness of it all!
Dinan is one of our favorite northern Brittany towns, too.
My favorite north coast area is Ploumanach.
Did you know that the film, The Vikings, with Kirk Douglas was filmed at Fort La Latte?
The pastry Kouign Amann pretty much started out as leftover bread dough that was rolled out, had a good layer of of butter spread on it, covered with an equal layer of sugar. Fold in opposite edges of dough until they touch, fold one more time. Do the same with the remaining two sides so the butter sugar filling is contained and cannot escape and you have a neat packet. Gently Roll out so as to not let the filling break through or escape (this is easier said than done). Repeat the folding in each direction as above. Fit or gently mold the finished product into a well buttered deep pie plate or cake pan. Let rest a half hour or so. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in a Medium to hot oven so that the butter sugar mix caramelizes as it bakes but doesn't burn.
If you like Kouign Amann, you must have liked the gateau breton and the Breton butter cookies. The best ones are made in Pleyben in the interior(though Pont Aven's on the South Coast run a close second). The whole little village smells like butter cookies and Pleyben has a wonderful Parish Close with church, ossuary and triumphal arch. Those special Pleyben butter cookies can't be found anywhere but locally. MMMMM. I never buy enough according to my husband
Thanks again, for such a wonderful report back.
I noticed one of your meals was at a Logis de France affiliate. Even if we aren't staying at the hotel,which we do frequently, we keep one of their maps in our car and around lunchtime start looking for the nearest Logis options. We've never had a bad meal and only one that was just "ok"; most are very good, rapport qualité/prix we have found. Crepes and Kig ar Farz, now you're talking home cooking, along with fish soup and Breton Far, plump with prunes. A little cider and Hydromel...I'm salivating just thinking about the simple goodness of it all!
Dinan is one of our favorite northern Brittany towns, too.
My favorite north coast area is Ploumanach.
Did you know that the film, The Vikings, with Kirk Douglas was filmed at Fort La Latte?
The pastry Kouign Amann pretty much started out as leftover bread dough that was rolled out, had a good layer of of butter spread on it, covered with an equal layer of sugar. Fold in opposite edges of dough until they touch, fold one more time. Do the same with the remaining two sides so the butter sugar filling is contained and cannot escape and you have a neat packet. Gently Roll out so as to not let the filling break through or escape (this is easier said than done). Repeat the folding in each direction as above. Fit or gently mold the finished product into a well buttered deep pie plate or cake pan. Let rest a half hour or so. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in a Medium to hot oven so that the butter sugar mix caramelizes as it bakes but doesn't burn.
If you like Kouign Amann, you must have liked the gateau breton and the Breton butter cookies. The best ones are made in Pleyben in the interior(though Pont Aven's on the South Coast run a close second). The whole little village smells like butter cookies and Pleyben has a wonderful Parish Close with church, ossuary and triumphal arch. Those special Pleyben butter cookies can't be found anywhere but locally. MMMMM. I never buy enough according to my husband
Thanks again, for such a wonderful report back.
Jan 19th, 2012, 12:19 PM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TexasAggie - Thank you!
YankyGal - I hope I've given you good reason to go back and explore Brittany some more. The fireplace was a must for us on this trip, along with the ocean. And yes, that is a different fireplace pix each night. The Fodorites are too smart to try to fool with the same picture.
P50 - Id be happy to share some tips on Normandy with you. Could you perhaps start a thread and state your question so that I and others can respond? There are many posters here who probably know Normandy better than I do so I think you'd benefit more from the advice of the whole community rather than just myself. If you post a question I promise to respond.
treble - Hunting for megaliths is more fun than being hunted by dogs!
klondiketoo - My oh my you certainly do know your Breton foods, don't you? I think I've at least tried all the foods you mentioned with the exception of hydromel. I had to ask my wife what that was so I'll put it on the list for my next trip.
At Fort-la-Latte they had little signs posted here and there and one of them talked about all the films that had been shot there and I think I recall The Vikings being among those mentioned. Although when you think about it, the Vikings arrived hundreds of years before the fort was built. Hollywood never lets the facts get in the way of a good story.
We're aware of the Logis reputation but we weren't even seeking it out. It just happened to be what was open when we rolled into town. It's always nice when your only option is a good option. Thanks for reading and glad you enjoyed it.
YankyGal - I hope I've given you good reason to go back and explore Brittany some more. The fireplace was a must for us on this trip, along with the ocean. And yes, that is a different fireplace pix each night. The Fodorites are too smart to try to fool with the same picture.
P50 - Id be happy to share some tips on Normandy with you. Could you perhaps start a thread and state your question so that I and others can respond? There are many posters here who probably know Normandy better than I do so I think you'd benefit more from the advice of the whole community rather than just myself. If you post a question I promise to respond.
treble - Hunting for megaliths is more fun than being hunted by dogs!
klondiketoo - My oh my you certainly do know your Breton foods, don't you? I think I've at least tried all the foods you mentioned with the exception of hydromel. I had to ask my wife what that was so I'll put it on the list for my next trip.
At Fort-la-Latte they had little signs posted here and there and one of them talked about all the films that had been shot there and I think I recall The Vikings being among those mentioned. Although when you think about it, the Vikings arrived hundreds of years before the fort was built. Hollywood never lets the facts get in the way of a good story.
We're aware of the Logis reputation but we weren't even seeking it out. It just happened to be what was open when we rolled into town. It's always nice when your only option is a good option. Thanks for reading and glad you enjoyed it.
Jan 19th, 2012, 12:20 PM
#30
Another great shoot. I spent a fair bit of time in Dinan as a child, staying on a boat in the harbour and walking the streets up to the ex-cathedral. Recently I went back there with my Bro-in-law (Professor in Medieval Philisophy) who opened my eyes to all the little stone features around town.
Love St Malo and Dinard too. I walked Mrs Bilbo around Dinard 3 years ago just looking at the architecture and avoiding the toffee apples.
Love St Malo and Dinard too. I walked Mrs Bilbo around Dinard 3 years ago just looking at the architecture and avoiding the toffee apples.
Jan 19th, 2012, 05:53 PM
#31
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
your report is making me re-think our planned trip in Sept & putting Alsace/Burgundy on the
agenda....now I am being pulled towards Brittany again.....going along the coast past Fort-la-Latte and "down" to the southern coast area.....so much to see!!!!...Have you been along that area???
agenda....now I am being pulled towards Brittany again.....going along the coast past Fort-la-Latte and "down" to the southern coast area.....so much to see!!!!...Have you been along that area???
Jan 20th, 2012, 10:10 AM
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bilbo - I envy you living on a boat on the Rance in Dinan. I didn't see any toffee apples but maybe they just put those out in the summer time. Thankfully the beautifu architecture is a year round thing.
Nottingham - If by southern Brittany you are referring to the area around the Gulf of Morbihan, then yes, I have been there a few times and you probably won't be surprised that I have a report about a week vacation I took there two summers ago.
http://tinyurl.com/2555vaf
You might also have a look at this thread I responded to on another forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic....html#37748007
Nottingham - If by southern Brittany you are referring to the area around the Gulf of Morbihan, then yes, I have been there a few times and you probably won't be surprised that I have a report about a week vacation I took there two summers ago.
http://tinyurl.com/2555vaf
You might also have a look at this thread I responded to on another forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic....html#37748007
Jan 20th, 2012, 12:37 PM
#33
This is really one of FMT's most amazing photo reports ever. As I already said during one of his previous reports, I do not have much interest in Brittany, but he manages to prove that I am completely wrong.
After seeing his photos, I have every intention of following in his footsteps sooner or later because he manages to find all of the most incredibly picturesque sites that nobody can resist.
And after he told us about the wonderful fireplaces where he stayed, I have already started picking up firewood.
After seeing his photos, I have every intention of following in his footsteps sooner or later because he manages to find all of the most incredibly picturesque sites that nobody can resist.
And after he told us about the wonderful fireplaces where he stayed, I have already started picking up firewood.
Mar 7th, 2012, 11:34 AM
#37
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wonderful report, FMT and so was your summer report about Brittany! While the coast is magical, the back roads and the stone houses are also fantastic, along with the peaceful terrain and those fascinating empty roads that call to all of us for adventure.
