towns & villages
Les Cerisiers is the ideal holiday home cottage to use as a base for exploring some of the towns and villages of the Cotes d’Armor region of Brittany. Located in a friendly hamlet, our nearest village is Tramain, a pretty village where you’ll find a bakery, village shop and two bars. Tramain is a just couple of minutes drive, or a gentle 10 minute stroll away.
Here are just a few suggestions for places to visit on your doorstep and further afield. Have a look at our ‘things to do’ section for links to lots of other things to do!
The house is just 20 minutes from the Medieval town of Dinan. Most guidebooks recommend Dinan as a ‘must see’. Still entirely surrounded by its ramparts, the old town is a maze of cobbled streets, half timbered buildings, ancient churches, the clock tower, and no less than two castles! In summer, the town is a blaze of colour with wonderful floral displays and street entertainers.
We particularly like the range of individual shops (particularly the chocolatier!), the delicatessens and the wide range of cafes and restaurants. The kids like the crazy golf and the mini zoo in the Park, the Little Train which takes you on a guided tour of the town, and, of course, exploring the Chateau. Don’t miss the stunning views of the Port overlooking the viaduct from the old Ramparts, and, of course, the old port itself, where you can get a boat all the way to St Malo! A town of traders, craftsmen and fairs since the middle ages, Dinan maintains its role as commercial capital of the Pays de Rance.
Market day in Dinan is Thursday, when the market square is bustling with local produce, colourful textiles, curios and bric-a-brac, and a spectacular fish market.
Click here to visit the Dinan tourist office site.
Just 5 minutes drive away is Jugon-les-Lacs, one of the prettiest ‘Petites Cités de Caractere’. On the shores of a 4km long lake, Jugon is a very pretty village with granite mansions and a handsome square, and used to be an important strategic fortified town in the time of the Dukes of Brittany. Today, you’ll find restaurants, bars and small shops, along with a bank and an excellent boulangerie.
As you’d expect of a town on a lake, you can enjoy a range of activities on the water. Discover the joys of rowing, sailing, canoeing or taking out a pedalo on your own, or supervised by qualified instructors at the sailing school (http://www.jugon-les-lacs.com/en/sn_nautisme.php), for adults and children from the age of 6. Because the lake is sheltered, without waves or tides, it’s an ideal place to learn to sail.
A visit to Le Mont St Michel at least once in a lifetime is a must! Les Cerisiers is just over an hou’s drive to this magical citadel rising from the waters of La Manche. Just over the border of Brittany into Normandy, and with lots of other tourist attractions along the coastline, it is day trip well worth making.
Cancale on the Emerald Coast is the Oyster capital of Brittany, an hour’s drive away, and again, makes a worthwhile day trip. Even if you hate oysters, just want to try one, or are a true oyster afficionado, Cancale’s oyster beds and the quality of its Oysters are renowned throughout France. The seafront is full of colourful restaurants offering the best local oysters, mussels and locally caught fish.
After lunch at Cancale why not stop off at St Malo. Not just a port to rush through at the start and finish of your holiday, St Malo’s ‘Intra Muros’ old town was once a pirate stronghold, and within the ramparts today, you’ll find a myriad of cobbled streets, imposing town gateways, individual shops, and a beautiful sandy beach. Some of the prints in the holiday cottage were painted by an artist who has a small studio and retail gallery in St Malo. You’ll find his details in your welcome pack.
There are far too many interesting towns in Brittany to list here. Why not come and discover them for yourself using Les Cerisiers as a comfortable holiday cottage base for exploring the treasures of Brittany.
