Introduction
Brittany with it's beautiful coastline and quiet country roads is a paradise for motorcyclists. Those with a liking for seafood will find numerous little restaurants in such places as St Malo and Cancale, famed for it's oysters and mussels.
Wherever you go you will find that motorcyclists are made very welcome with none of the discrimination so often found in UK nowadays. If you are lucky enough you may well find that your visit coincides with one of the many ride outs or balades, which frequently take place and often attract up to 200 riders.
Here are just a few suggestions, there are many more places to visit, we have brochures and maps here for your use.
Porcaro - 1 hour
Home of the Madone des Motards rally which is held every year on August 15th and attracts up to 20,000 riders from all over Europe. There is even a little chapel there dedicated to motor cyclists.
Dinan - 20 mins
Stunning medieval town with a wealth of half timbered buildings and a 15th century castle. It's worth taking a walk down the steep cobbled streets to the Port de Dinan on the river Rance where you can sit and watch the world go by and have a coffee at one of the many riverside restaurants. If you're too hot ot weary to face the climb back up to Dinan there is a little tourist train, which runs during the summer, to take the strain.
St Malo - 30 mins
Beautiful walled town where one can walk around the ramparts taking in the wonderful sea views. Many restaurants and cafes nestle in the narrow streets. From here you can take the short ferry crossing to Dinard or even take a day trip by high speed catamaran to Jersey. There is also a beautiful walk around the headland from the marina to the old fort which was the scene of the battle for St Malo Port in 1944. Much of St Malo was destroyed and most of what you see today has been painstakenly rebuilt using the salvaged original stone and the original building plans which had been archived.
Forte le Latte - 1 hour
A stunning medieval fortress in a truly dramatic setting on a headland overlooking the sea. The famous 1960's film, The Vikings with Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas, was filmed here. It's open to the public for a small admission fee and well worth a visit.
Mont St Michel - 40 mins
This world heritage site is famous for it's magnificent abbey perched on the top of a granite islet reached by a short causeway from the mainland. There has been major work to improve access over the last few years which is now completed and now includes a park and ride system. Just park in the designated bike area, get a ticket which includes admission from one of the machines and hop on one of the many free shuttle buses which will take you to the Mount itself which is far bigger than most people realise. The views from the top are amazing and well worth the walk through the steep, narrow streets.
Brittany American Cemetary - 1 hour
Located near St James on the border of Brittany and Normandy, it contains the graves of nearly 4500 American military war dead, including twenty instances, where two brothers are buried side by side. There is also a chapel and memorial containing a large diarama of the Normandy and Brittany campaign of 1944.
There is also a German ossuary at Mont d'Huisnes near Mont St Michel where the remains of nearly 12,000 German soldiers rest.
D-day Landing Beaches Normandy - 2 hours
Too many sites to list individually, but Pointe du Hoc, Pegasus Bridge, D-Day museum at St Mere Eglise and the huge American Cemetary at Omaha Beach,, are not to be missed.
Voie de Liberte
This is the commemorative way which marks the route of General Patton's 3rd U.S. Army from D Day in June 1944. It runs from St Mere Eglise in Normandy to Bastogne in Belgium, a distance of 1146 kms. There is a stone marker at each kilometre, the first being outside the town hall in St Mere Eglise. The route passes along the old main road from St Malo to Rennes and goes through the centre of St Domineuc, our local village.
Rennes - 30 mins
The administrative capital of the province, Rennes is not at all what it seems to be at first glance. Going into the centre of the old city will show a wealth of half timbered buildings, beautiful gardens and many little brasseries. It even has its own Metro system.
Misc
Mmmmm - lots of goodies in the shops
If only they were really this big!
You never know what you will see!
One of the many charms of France - alfresco lunches.
