Places to visit

Carnac - Karnag

Carnac

Returning from the Quiberon peninsula back to Plouharnel. Take the road southeast to Carnac.

Carnac is famous for ancient stone monuments. It is also a popular seaside resort with spectacular beaches and a large harbour. Carnac is one of the largest megalithic complexes in Europe with over 3000 standing stones.

Locmariaquer - Lokmaria-Kaer

Locmariaquer (Breton: Lokmaria-Kaer) is a commune in the west of the Morbihan (Breton: Mor-Bihan) department in Brittany. It has a number of beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean and the bay Quiberon (Breton: Kiberen). Locmariaquer is famous for the location of some of the most significant neolithic remains in Europe.  

Gavrinis

Gavrinis tomb passage carvings image courtesy of Office de tourisme de Carnac

The megalithic tomb at Gavrinis is on an island in the Gulf of Morbihan. This is accessible by a short boat trip from Larmor-Baden (Breton: An Arvor-Baden) . The Gavrinis Tumulus stands at a height of about 20ft and 165ft in circumference. There are twenty-nine upright stones which lead via a passage to a large chamber. This chamber is topped with a large square stone of about 13ft. There are carvings and three holes cut into the rock of one of the chambers. On going into a passage leading to the inner chamber, there are two prominent stone sills on the floor. There are designs carved on the threshold of the inner chamber. There are also intricate carvings on nearly all of the slabs of both the passage and the chamber

Vannes - Gwened

Nineteen miles northeast from Carnac, Vannes (Breton: Gwened) is located on the Gulf of Morbihan Breton: (Mor-Bihan) and sits at the mouth of the rivers Marie and Vincin. The town of has many medieval buildings and was the former seat of the Parliament of Brittany. There is an archaeological museum with a collection of prehistoric tools, weapons, jewellery, and pottery found in excavations nearby. Tourism is an important part of Vannes economy and tourist office in the town gives excellent information of the town, the surrounding municipalities and periphery of the Gulf of Morbihan.

Nantes - Naonad

The city of Nantes and the Loire-Atlantique Department were formerly part of the historic province of Brittany, and Nantes along with Rennes was one of its traditional capitals. Historically there is no doubt that the country around Nantes was always seen as being part of Brittany. In 1207 the Dukes of Brittany lived in Nantes. Most of the dukes and duchesses were buried in the cathedral or the adjacent abbeys.

Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly are off the south western tip of the Cornish mainland. Although part of the ceremonial county of Cornwall they have their own unitary authority. Tourism is the major industry today with good transport links to the mainland.

Launceston Castle - Kastell Lannstefan

Launceston Castle - Kastell Lannstefan

Launceston is situated just over one mile west of the River Tamar River which marks the border between Cornwall and Devon and is referred to as the "gateway to Cornwall". Launceston Castle dominates the town. It is a Norman castle built in 1070 by Robert de Mortain and half-bother of William 1. The castle is an earthwork motte and bailey construction and was the administrative headquarters for the Earls of Cornwall. An inner keep was added in the twelfth century and during the thirteenth Richard, Earl of Cornwall began to rebuild the castle in stone. The tower (with two rooms) was constructed in darker stone than the rest of the castle. A new great hall was built inside the twelfth century bailey, which remained in use until the early 17th century as an Assize Hall.

Saltash - Essa

Saltash (Essa) is a town in the south east of Cornwall, overlooking the River Tamar. The town is south southeast from Launceston along the A388 and then A38. It was an important ferrying point across the river and to and from St Germans Monastery and Trematon Castle. Saltash is the location of the Royal Albert Bridge which takes the rail line across the Tamar and the railway station is near to the town centre. Next to the Royal Albert Bridge is the Tamar Bridge which forms part of the A38. Sir Francis Drake's first wife, Mary Newman, had a cottage within the town and is on Culver Road. The area around the town, in particular Churchtown Farm, which is a nature reserve, is noted for it's scenery and walks. It is about one mile south of Saltash. Close by are the castles of Tremarton and Ince.

Rame Head - Maker-with-Rame

Known as Rame Head this promontory lies at the south-eastern tip of Cornwall, near to the mouth of the Tamar estuary. Flint tools found in the vicinity of the headland point to the areas occupation from the Mesolithic period. In the Iron Age the headland was separated from the mainland by a ditch and rampart stretching across the isthmus creating a cliff castle. The rampart remains visible. Rame Head is west from Saltash along the A38. Turn east on to the A374 east and then take minor roads to Rame Head.

Liskeard - Lys Kerwyd

Liskeard (Lys Kerwyd) is located northwest from Rame Head. Return from Rame Head to the A374 and then on to the A38. It is an ancient market town and stannary. After the Conquest a Norman castle was built here but there are no longer visible remains. The town remains an important market town with vibrant shopping facilities and in the past was an important centre for the tin mining industry. Within the town is St. Martin's church, which was built on the site of a former Norman church and the oldest parts of the current structure date back to the 15th century.

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