Rochefort en terre et La Gacilly
On the edge of Morbihan, not far from Brocéliande, lie two beautiful villages, 20km apart : Rochefort en Terre and La Gacilly. These two little gems have a thousand and one reasons to visit and stroll through their narrow streets. Here are just a few…
Rochefort-en-Terre - Pearl of Brittany
With its ramparts, castle and old houses, Rochefort-en-Terre is an absolute must to visit in inland Brittany. All year round, galleries, shops and craft workshops fill its flower-filled streets with life. As the end of the year approaches, the village has amazing illuminations which people come from far and wide to see and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. It is not surprising that the character village was voted « France’s Favourite Village » in 2016 ! Proudly situated on a rocky promontory, surrounded by moorland and woods, the village has kept its charm of bygone days. Nothing is left to chance : cobbled streets, stylised shops signs, very great care is taken to ensure that the village retains its authenticity.
At the turn of the 20th century, the American painter Alfred Klots bought the outbuildings of the castle, rebuilt in the 17th century, and converted them into a manor house. Today only the castle grounds are open to the public and are the venue of numerous events throughout the year. They are also the site of the Naïa Museum, a fascinating museum of imaginary and fantasy art which takes you on a fantasy journey through time and space ! Finally, if you are looking for peace and tranquillity, the banks of the Etang du Moulin Neuf lake are an ideal starting point for a walk around Rochefort-en-Terre. Allow two hours to do the 6km Blue Trail. If you enjoy journeys back in time, don’t miss the 25-hectare Parc de la Préhistoire a few kilometres away which retraces the footsteps of Cro-Magnon man in 30 reconstituted scenes between lakes and cliffs. Continue your discovery tour at another character village very close-by : La Roche Bernard.
La Gacilly, village of natural beauty !
La Gacilly is a charming village on the banks of the leafy valley of the River Aff with flower-filled streets lined with old houses of colourful local shale. It is also an arts and crafts centre with numerous workshops run by sculptors, potters, jewellery makers, brass workers and glass makers. Here in this pretty Breton village in 1959 the firm of Yves Rocher was created. Proud of his origins, the leading cosmetic manufacturer installed his production sites here along with a botanical garden, an eco-friendly Eco-Hôtel Spa and more recently, a wonderful museum retracing the fascinating story of the family-owned brand. Far from spoiling their native village, the family have successfully retained its authenticity, while highlighting Nature and plants.
Finally, if you visit between June and September, you can enjoy the Photographic Festival when the village becomes an open-air gallery. Gigantic photos adorn the fronts of buildings and lots of other places to take you by surprise. Nadège, who works for Gîtes de France Ille et Vilaine strongly recommends this visit : « These gigantic works will enthral you throughout your visit. The artists draw your attention to different subjects, often linked to the environment and the impact of human activity on the planet. The fact that the whole village becomes a gallery gives a totally new dimension to the works on show».
How to get to La Gacilly and Rochefort en Terre
La Gacilly is 50km from Rennes via D177 (Rennes – Redon road), partly dual-carriageway. It takes just under an hour. Paris is just over 4 hours. The area is about 40km from Vannes and the Gulf of Morbihan and just under 100km from Lorient.
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