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Beautiful French Town

The towns and villages of France

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At the western end of the bay, separated from La Baule by the Pouliguen tidal channel, this historic Breton port captivates visitors with its preserved maritime character and the raw beauty of its rocky coastline.

The Port Promenade and the Quai Jules-Sandeau: This wide pedestrian esplanade runs alongside the channel where fishing boats and traditional sailboats are moored. It's the perfect place to enjoy artisanal ice cream, listen to sea shanties, or watch the tides fill the salt marshes upstream.

The Wild Coast and its Mystical Caves: As soon as you leave the port, the landscape transforms. The sand gives way to steep granite cliffs sculpted by the relentless ocean. The coastal path leads to secluded coves and famous sea caves, such as the Grotte des Korrigans (Cave of the Korrigans), steeped in Breton legends.

Nau Beach: Backed by the Bois de l'Anis forest, this beautiful family beach marks the transition between the gentle bay and the rugged rocky coastline. Its orientation offers ideal shelter from the prevailing winds.

Pornichet – La Baule – Le Pouliguen

Pornichet, the Sporty Town and its Lively Ports

The history of Provins was written as much underground as in its public squares, fueled by a flourishing commercial activity.

The Mysterious Network of Underground Passages: The upper town is a veritable anthill. Its cellars are crisscrossed by kilometers of medieval galleries with pointed arches. Initially dug to extract fuller's earth (used to clean wool from cloth), these underground passages later served as warehouses, secret meeting places for guilds, and shelters.

The Tithe Barn: This magnificent 13th-century merchant's house, with its splendid vaulted ground floor, served as a storage area and covered market during the Champagne Fairs. Now transformed into a museum, its immersive displays bring to life the various trades of the period (drapers, money changers, Italian and Flemish merchants).

The Place du Châtel: This is the beating heart of the upper town. This large paved square, bordered by medieval houses and adorned in its center with the "Croix des Changes" and an old well, was the place where financial affairs were conducted and where currencies from all over Europe were exchanged.

Provins

Caesar's Tower, Legendary Keep and Royal Panorama

Developed around the cathedral, the Puy-Saint-Front district forms the pedestrian heart of Périgueux, where cobbled streets reveal sumptuous merchants' houses.

Renaissance Mansions: Strolling along Rue de la Limogeanne or Rue Éguillerie, you'll discover magnificent 15th- and 16th-century facades. Don't miss the Hôtel de Lestillac or the Maison des Consuls, which boast mullioned windows, intricate carvings, and superb hidden courtyards.

Corbels and Half-Timbered Houses: The district preserves charming medieval half-timbered houses with corbelled upper stories. The narrow streets, connected by tiny vaulted passageways (known as "andrones"), immediately transport visitors back to the time of medieval fairs.

The Eschif de Creysset: Acrobatically suspended above the ramparts bordering the Isle River, this curious 14th-century timber-framed building served as a watchtower to monitor the bridge connecting to the outer town. It is one of the most photogenic views of Périgueux.

Périgueux

Saint-Front Cathedral, a touch of Venice in Périgord

Pézenas is a city of creativity. Its medieval streets are home to a unique community of over a hundred artisans who are reviving centuries-old crafts.

The Arts and Crafts Quarter: The ground floors of the townhouses have been transformed into workshops open to the public. Cabinetmakers, glassblowers, stonemasons, bookbinders, blacksmiths, and jewelry makers share their passion under the stone vaults.

The Maison des Métiers d'Art (Ateliers d'Art de France): Housed in the former consular palace, this magnificent showcase offers themed exhibitions and sells unique pieces (furniture, tableware, sculptures) crafted by local artists.

Antiques and Secondhand Dealers: On the edge of the city center, along the N113 highway, Pézenas is renowned for its exceptional concentration of antique dealers. A true paradise for bargain hunters looking for vintage items, patinated furniture and historical curiosities.

Pézenas

Following in the Footsteps of Molière, the Genius of Comedy

Located a little further down the Odet River, the Locmaria district is the original site of Quimper's Roman settlement, now a center of world-renowned artisanal expertise.

The Romanesque Church of Locmaria: Dating from the 11th century, this abbey church is the oldest monument in Quimper. Its understated Romanesque architecture and the purity of its limestone lines offer a striking contrast to the flamboyant Gothic style of the cathedral.

The HB-Henriot Pottery Factory (since 1708): Locmaria is the birthplace of Quimper earthenware. The historic HB-Henriot factory has been perpetuating a tradition of excellence, entirely handmade, for three centuries. A visit to the workshops allows you to discover the precise movements of the "painters" as they bring to life the famous "little Breton" pattern or floral motifs.

The Earthenware Museum: Housed in a former factory, this museum presents an exceptional collection of more than 2,000 pieces (plates, sculptures, artistic earthenware), tracing the evolution of styles and major artistic collaborations (such as those with Jean Moulin or Mathurin Méheut).

Quimper

Saint-Corentin Cathedral, a Giant of Breton Gothic

Porto-Vecchio's greatest strength lies in its ability to transport you from the beach to the high mountains in under thirty minutes, opening the door to a wild and magnificent hinterland.

The Village and Forest of L'Ospedale: At 900 meters altitude, this small hilltop village offers a welcome respite from the heat. The road winds through a magnificent forest of Corsican pine and beech trees, revealing a reservoir reminiscent of a Canadian landscape, where dead trees emerge from the water in a mystical atmosphere.

The "Piscia di Gallu" Waterfall: A must-do hike through the heart of the forest leads to this spectacular 60-meter-high waterfall, which plunges dramatically from a rocky cleft amidst a jumble of pink granite.

The Bavella Needles: Heading towards the Alta Rocca region, you'll discover these immense, jagged granite walls that soar towards the sky, changing color with the changing light. It's a paradise for hikers (crossed by the legendary GR20), climbers, and canyoning enthusiasts.

Porto-Vecchio

The Genoese Citadel, Historic Heart and Panoramic Stroll

Between two major shows, visitors stroll through faithful reconstructions of historical villages, brought to life by passionate artisans.

The 1900 Village: A Belle Époque village square with its old-fashioned shop windows, wooden carousel, and the atmosphere of early 20th-century Parisian bistros.

The 18th-Century Village: A peaceful rural haven where farm animals roam and time seems to stand still around a historic vegetable garden.

The Medieval City and the Year 1000 Fort: Blacksmiths, illuminators, and carpenters share the secrets of their ancestral crafts in cobbled alleyways or amidst thatched huts.

Puy du Fou

Grand Daytime Spectaculars, Grand Epics

Getting lost in Pérouges is a sensory delight. The streets follow the circular shape of the ramparts and invite you to explore their architectural details.

The "Cat's Head" Paving: The narrow streets of Pérouges are famous for their traditional paving of round pebbles laid on edge. In the center of the streets, a channel of flat stones allowed for drainage. A good pair of shoes is essential for walking on this ground steeped in history!

The Weavers' Shops: Strolling along Rue des Rondes or Rue du Prince, you'll notice the wide, low windows of the houses. In the Middle Ages, master weavers set up their looms there to weave linen or hemp and take advantage of the daylight, while also displaying their fabrics to passing buyers.

The Garden of Simples (Hortulus): Nestled behind the museum, this small reconstructed medieval garden showcases medicinal, aromatic and dye plants that were once essential to the daily lives of the inhabitants and healers.

Pérouges

The Fortified Gates and the Pebble Wall

The historic heart of the town, Port-Maria is Quiberon's main fishing port, steeped in a rich maritime history linked to sardine fishing.

The Fishing Port and the Fish Market: Early in the morning, Port-Maria comes alive with the return of trawlers and coastal boats unloading prized fish (sea bass, sea bream, sole) and shellfish. It is the authentic heart of the peninsula, where the scent of the open sea mingles with the bustle of the fishermen.

The Canning Tradition: In the 19th century, Quiberon was the world's leading sardine port, home to dozens of canneries. The renowned La Quiberonnaise (founded in 1921) and Conserverie Belle-Iloise perpetuate this historical expertise, offering hand-prepared sardines in beautiful collector's tins.

The Ferry Terminal for the Islands of the Open Sea: Port-Maria is the gateway to the islands of the ocean. It is from here that you board the ferries to reach Belle-Île-en-Mer (aptly named), but also the preserved and car-free islands of Houat and Hoëdic, for timeless getaways.

Quiberon

The Wild Coast, Nature's Raw Spectacle

Founded in 1786 by Louis XVI, the National Sheepfold is an exceptional historic agricultural site, originally created to house the famous flock of Merino sheep imported from Spain.

The Merino Sheep Conservatory: The Sheepfold jealously guards the purity of the Rambouillet Merino breed, renowned for the exceptional fineness of its wool. It is a unique global genetic heritage.

A full-scale educational farm: Now open to the public, it delights families. Visitors can explore the stables, the farmyard, watch the cows being milked, and enjoy fun activities such as the "Milk Escape Game" or carriage rides within the enclosed grounds.

Rambouillet and its Castle

The National Estate and its prestigious Castle

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