My daughter, my grandchildren (12, 15), and I are spending four nights in Vannes in June. We arrive on a Fri. evening, train strike permitting, and will spend Sat. at the market, exploring the town, etc. I want to make the most of our next two full days, which, of course, is not enough. Some thoughts are: day trip to Belle Ile-en-Mer, trip to Quimper (perhaps stopping at Pont Aven), or even driving up to Ploumanac'h. Before I plan a trip, I generally have some idea of what I want to do in the area, but this time I chose Brittany because none of us has ever been there and it's on my "list." I have the Green Guide but am feeling overwhelmed as to how to best spend our short time in the area. Vannes will be our "big town" experience so prefer quaint villages, interesting countryside, coastal towns, islands (?),etc. Those of you with experience in this part of Brittany, could you weigh in with some ideas? (We will spend a night in Pontorson and visit Mont St. Michel on our way back to Paris.) Thank you for any advice.

On Sat afternoon, you could explore further and maybe take a boat to île d'Arz. For only 2 days, there is a a lot to see not very far away from Vannes : Gulf of Morbihan, Carnac, Pont Aven, Concarneau, or in other directions the forest of Brocéliande, Josselin, Guérande... I would not advise to spend a whole day to reach Ploumanach and the pink granite coast on the north (from Vannes, about 4-hour drive there and back): you would need to spend more time in Brittany to include the north coast. Maybe on your way to Mont St Michel you could stop in Dinan or St Malo.
You may find a few insights about places to see during your trip in Brittany on Itineraries in Brittany

Instead of Pontorson to see MSM, consider Fougeres. It's not that far, and it's CHARMING. Adore that little town.

How about a boat ride in the Golfe de Morbihan?

I went horseback riding at "lands end" - can't recall right now what the promontory was called, but the stable was in Plogoff which was smack next to it. Finisterre is the part of Brittany but the end-end has a name.

You will see the menhirs of course... trying to think of any other things....

Big fan of Fougères here, also. And nearby Vitré.

I think the pink rocks area is too far away for a day trip. Quimper might be too far away also. With only 4 days - I would stick to sites closer to Vannes..

We will be there this June also - but for 2 weeks. Followed by 2 weeks close to Concarneau. Here is what we plan to do near Vannes:


Morbihan
Get new copy of "Route des ducs de Bretagne"
Close to Gite
Chateau Plessis Josso 02 97 43 16 16 2-6:30 guided 40 mins
Fortresse de Largoet 02 97 53 35 96 10:30-12:10 2:20-6:30 Cl Tu

Trip 1
Presqu'ile de Rhuys pg 355
Musee des Arts, Metiers, et Commerce pg 356 2-7 Cl Tu
Chateau de Suscinio* pg 356 10-7

Trip 2 Map 316 1 1/4 hrs to St Brevin
La Cote Sauvage* pg 439 1 1/4 hrs to get to La Baule
Le Croisic* pg 438
Batz sur Mer* pg 439
Musee des Marais Salants 10-6 Cl M
Grand Blockhaus 10-7
Kerborn, Kerhinet, Kermoureau, Arbourg, Mayun (Cad) - thatched villages
La Roche Bernard pg 390
Musee de la Vilaine Maritime 10:30-12:30 2:30-6:30

Trip 3
Vannes to Locmariaquer pg 353
Ste Avoye pg 361
Auray* pg 358
St Degan pg 359 M-F 2-5

Trip 4
Malestroist pg 398, Cad pg 551 get Google map
Musee de la Resistance in St Marcel 10-6:30-Cl Tu? Cad pg 552
Ploemel pg 397
Josselin ** pg 394 2-6
Guehenno pg 397
Lizio Musee 2-6


Trip 5 - Overnight at Vauban hotel/restaurant
Belle Ile *** pg 373
Vauban fort*
Driving tour # 1*** pg 375

Trip 6
La Vraie Croix pg 394
Questembert pg 394
Rochefort en Terre* pg 393
Redon pg 112 old houses
La Gacilly Cad* pg 555

Trip 7
Quiberon Peninsula* pg 369
La Cote Sauvage** pg 370

Trip 8
St Brevin is 1 1/4 hrs fron gite
Cote de Jade*
Pornic* Pg 421, Cad pg 612

Trip 9
Pontivy old houses* pg 400
Driving tour pg 402
St Nicolas des Eaux
Bleuzy
Poul Fetan*

Trip 10
Nantes is 1 3/4 hrs away pg 404
Vannes to Nantes on train
lv 1:12 ar 2:45
return 11:20 ar 12:49
4:42 ar 6:11

Markets
Vannes W, Sat
Auray M
St Ave Su


Stu Dudley

Dulicate threads merged

I wouldn't do Ploumanac'h from Vannes. You could do Josselin and Rochefort-en-Terre on the same day and maybe even Malestroit, or some combo of two out of the three. Right in the Gulf of Morbihan there is plenty to see and do. The old town of Auray is worth a visit and Quiberon and the Côte Sauvage as well. Locamariaquer and La-Trinité-sur-Mer merit a visit. On the Presqu'île de Rhuys there's the Chateau de Suscinio, Sarzeau and Port Navalo, which has lovely coastal walks. If you're into prehistoric megalithic sites then a boat trip to the island of Gavrinis is a must as this is essentially the Sistene Chapel of engraved neolithic art work: https://www.morbihan.fr/gavrinis/

In the same vein the alignments at Carnac are a must and the megalith museum in Locmariaquer and its associated megaliths merit a visit:
https://www.morbihan.com/accueil/a-v...ens-et-menhirs

I wrote a photo report about spending a week exploring the Gulf of Morbihan and environs and it is full of photos and descriptions of the places I visited if you want to have a look:
Brittany Vacation in The Gulf of Morbihan | Forum

This is a subject regarding which I cannot weigh, since I have never been a fan of Brittany. However, I can recommend the Pointe du Raz -- the westernmost tip of continental France, and I did not hate a brief stay in Quimper.

Keep in mind that Mont Saint Michel is officially in Normandy, although the two regions quarrel about this.

Thank you, everyone, for the helpful suggestions, links, etc. Sounds as though we should definitely stay in southern Brittany for our short time. All of you have given me lots to further check out in the Green Guide, and I will come up with a flexible plan before we arrive.
Couple of specific questions: Belle Ile appears to be the most distant island in the area, and it looks as though it's a full day trip; worth it, or choose a closer island, such as some you have mentioned? Looks like we'd need a car or a tour on Belle Ile?
Weather; have checked historical weather on some sites, and I think it's going to be cool (daytime in the high 60ies, low 70ies) and windy. Anything else we should know? Our previous trips in June have always been to the south, and I know this is going to be very different!

I have been to MSM but IMO, it's a must see for the others, whether in Brittany or Normandy! Actually, I think it's most impressive viewing from the mainland, but the grandkids won't be put off by the junky tourist shops, etc.

I thought Carnac, and related prehistoric sites (including Locmariaquer), fascinating and stunning. For more information, I strongly recommend FrenchMystiqueTours's reports.

Belle-Ile is a great island, I would advise to spend at least 2 days/1 night there, because there is much to see there. For a day trip from Vannes, it is easier and quicker to reach Ile d'Arz or Ile aux Moines in the Gulf of Morbihan.
MSM is officially in Normandy, quarrels between Normandy and Brittany have only been jokes for a very long time (both regions pay and work together for the restoration).

Thanks for the nod of approval kja.

@ FrenchMystiqueTours: And thanks again for the excellent information!

Thanks again, everyone; you've given me my homework!

as ever, Stu has it nailed bit of course you are only there for 4 nights, he has 14.

We spent 4 nights in Vannes a few years ago and though I don't have total recall, we enjoyed the boat trip we arranged through the TI in town, the market was great, and the town itself is quite extensive and makes for a nice walk in the evenings. [NB at weekends it's worth reserving a table at any restaurants you like the look of, as the centre gets very busy.]

one evening we did an excursion to Auray which we liked a lot and ate at a restaurant we found that had tables in the street at the top of the hill leading down to the harbour. Sorry that's not much help! Also Quiberon looks like a good spot for a plateau de fruits de mer if you like that sort of thing.

Another evening we stayed in Vannes while the citizenry paraded around in Medieval costume as part of their historical festival but I see that's in July; it was boiling hot even quite late at night and we didn't understand why they weren't fainting.

Was the "boiling hot" a bit of a deviation from normal weather patterns? I know that averages are only averages, but I'm seeing much cooler temps for Vannes in the summer. Wish we were going to be there for some of the festivals with their traditional dress, etc.!

grandmere - there was a heat wave at the time, yes, [even in Cornwall] but Brittany can get pretty warm in the summer. I remember on another occasion leaving England in fairly normal summer weather [warm] and finding that Northern France was really hot.

The festival was great but I didn't envy them their costumes. I've just remembered that one night we went to a very good concert in the cathedral in the middle of Vannes - you might like to look out to see if there's anything on while you'll be there.

I've been several times to Brittany in the summer and never experienced very hot weather. While heat waves occur everywhere in France the average summer temperatures in Brittany and coastal northwestern France are among the lowest in the country so hot weather in Brittany is the exception, though feeling hot can be a personal thing.

While heat waves occur everywhere in France the average summer temperatures in Brittany and coastal northwestern France are among the lowest in the country so hot weather in Brittany is the exception, though feeling hot can be a personal thing>>

I think I know when it's hot, especially as I'm used to being quite cool. It so happened that both of the visits to which I referred co-incided with heat waves. Averages are of course, that, just averages.

It was so hot when we were in Vannes that we had to put the roof back up on Bill's sport's car because otherwise we would have got sunstroke. Interestingly, the area within 10kms or so of the north coast was covered in fog which came as a big shock coming out of the sun and heat of the rest of Brittany.