PERSONAL GUIDE

Just 30 minutes from the hotel, Vannes is a must-see stop on your tour of Morbihan. Located in Southern Brittany, Vannes has remained true to its reputation as a welcoming commercial city. Sheltered behind its high medieval ramparts, this Breton city with a prestigious past has successfully preserved and showcased its rich historical and architectural heritage.

A Bit of History

Vannes was founded at the head of the Gulf of Morbihan more than 2,000 years ago. A prosperous center during the Roman era, this Gallo-Roman site became the royal city of Brittany. In medieval times, the inner city developed around the market squares. Around Saint-Pierre Cathedral, high stone ramparts protect the half-timbered houses. The city we can admire today preserves within its walls the traces of these centuries steeped in history.

The Medieval City

The fortified city, designated a “City of Art and History,” is a treasure trove of sights to discover around every corner. You’ll discover fortified gates, 14th- and 15th-century towers such as the Constable’s Tower, and gardens laid out in the former moats…

A maze of medieval streets allows you to explore the city from the Porte Saint-Vincent to the Porte de la Prison. Lined with half-timbered houses, each one displays beautiful colors with a touch of whimsy.

The Marina

From the marina in the heart of town, you can enjoy a lovely walk all the way to Conleau.

Just 30 minutes from the "Relais & Châteaux" hotel at the Domaine de Rochevilaine, discover Rochefort-en-Terre, one of Brittany’s most charming "Petites Cités de Caractère" (Small Towns of Character). Let yourself be charmed by its castle, ramparts, and historic mansions with flower-adorned facades! A must-see stop during your stay at the hotel, the town comes alive year-round with charming artisan shops, market stalls, and art galleries.

Nestled amid the woods on a rocky outcrop, Rochefort-en-Terre has been designated a “Most Beautiful Village in France,” a “Flower-Filled Town,” and a “Small Town of Character.” Here, every detail is carefully tended; geraniums, roses, ivy, and other colorful flowers highlight the stone architecture. A hub for arts and crafts, you’ll find numerous studios run by painters and artisans.

​

Stroll through the picturesque cobblestone streets lined with historic homes and stylish shop signs. At every street corner, the town reveals its treasures, as evidenced by the corbelled houses on Place du Puits and Rue Saint-Michel.

Just 15 minutes from the hotel, discover La Roche-Bernard and take a trip back in time in this authentic village born of the sea and the maritime tradition.

A rich and fascinating history

Founded by the Viking Bern-Hart around the year 1000, the town enjoyed its heyday during the era of the barons and sailing ships. In the 17th century, port activity expanded and flourished thanks to the salt trade and the naval shipyard. The harbor master’s office, warehouses, and salt granaries bear witness to this prosperous era. Today, the port has been repurposed to primarily accommodate pleasure boats.

A Stroll Through the Narrow Streets

The architectural and cultural heritage of this city, shaped by the Vilaine River, bears witness to its prestigious past. Stroll through the picturesque narrow streets lined with stone houses weathered by time. Perched above the Vilaine River, historic residences and sumptuous mansions slope down toward the old harbor.

Must-see: Place Bouffay with its carved houses, and the Notre-Dame Chapel

A Surprising Stopover

The port of La Roche-Bernard is a place of relaxation, heritage, and traditions… Overlooking the estuary, the houses breathe new life into the town’s maritime past. Visit the Musée de la Vilaine Maritime, located in the Château des Basses-Fosses, built directly on the cliff face. The museum’s five floors tell the story of fishing, shipbuilding, and coastal shipping.

Tucked away in the Aff Valley, 30 minutes from the Hôtel du Domaine de Rochevilaine, the village of La Gacilly boasts a magnificent cultural and architectural heritage. The Yves Rocher gardens and the artisans’ workshops throughout the town create a lively and welcoming atmosphere all year round.

Natural Beauty

The town of La Gacilly has flourished alongside Yves Rocher’s cosmetics business. A true botanical observatory home to more than 1,100 species, the Yves Rocher Gardens are the perfect place to escape.

Stroll through the remarkable areas of its botanical garden and arboretum, explore the bamboo grove, and let yourself be enchanted by plants with exotic scents. All summer long, exhibitions, tours, and events dedicated to plant-based cosmetics are held here.

A Town of Artisanal Craftsmanship

Strolling through the flower-lined streets of La Gacilly is a truly delightful experience. Wander at your leisure through the pedestrian streets lined with art galleries and artisan shops. Designated a “Cité des Métiers d’art” (City of Artistic Crafts), La Gacilly is home to some thirty talented artisans who create high-quality, custom-made crafts right before your eyes. You’ll have the chance to watch sculptors, potters, jewelry designers, copper smiths, glassblowers, and more at work.

Ideally located on the banks of the Oust River, the thousand-year-old village of Malestroit is just 30 minutes from the estate. This Breton “Petite Cité de Caractère” invites you on a journey through the centuries.

The History of the Town

Malestroit was once an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. In the 15th century, the town was one of the nine baronies of Brittany, and in the 16th century, it flourished thanks to the construction of two lock chambers—among the first of their kind in France.

​

Exploring the Heritage

Discover Malestroit’s rich heritage and let us tell you the town’s story—from ancient Gallo-Roman times and its ossuaries through the Middle Ages, including the frescoes in Saint-Gilles Church and the Maison de la Truie qui File, and the Napoleonic era with the Nantes–Brest Canal.

Along the way, you’ll find many treasures worth taking a moment to appreciate, such as the 15th- and 16th-century houses on Place Bouffay, the granite townhouses, the polychrome sculptures, and religious monuments like the Church of Saint-Gilles.

Malestroit is also home to the Malestroit Resistance Museum (www.resistance-bretonne.com), a must-see for enthusiasts of contemporary history.

Discover Le Guerno, a charming little village in Morbihan known for its flower-bedecked houses and its magnificent 16th-century Templar church.

Exploring the Heritage

Just 10 km from the Relais Château, visit Le Guerno, a charming little village whose distinctive architecture has earned it the designation “Bourg du Patrimoine Rural de Bretagne” (Brittany Rural Heritage Village). In 2009, Le Guerno received the “Prix de l’Accueil,” and since 2012, the village has held the “Village Fleuri” designation with three flowers. Inhabited since Gallo-Roman times, this Breton village has successfully preserved and showcased its rich historical and architectural heritage.

Stroll through the village’s picturesque narrow streets lined with 18th-century houses. Although most of the homes have been restored over the past twenty years or so, the village still retains an undeniable charm.

Visit the Saint Jean-Baptiste Chapel, built on the ruins of a 12th-century church; the current building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. A true architectural gem, the church has been designated a historic monument since 1971.

Just a stone’s throw from the village, you’ll find two listed fountains, the Sainte Anne Fountain and the Sainte Marie Fountain, both dating from the 18th century.

The washhouse near the Sainte Anne Fountain and the Rinsquivy bread oven are also worth a brief stop.

Branféré Animal and Botanical Park

Located in the gardens of Branféré Castle (17th–19th centuries), the animal park is home to nearly 1,000 animals. Zebras, giraffes, lemurs, maned wolves, and red pandas roam in an extraordinary setting, a world apart from the traditional zoo concept.

Pierre-Yves Perrodo, a fishing guide in the Gulf of Morbihan, offers a wide variety of boat fishing courses.

Several options are available depending on your needs, from beginner to advanced levels!!

Top-of-the-line equipment is provided: TENRYU rods and the latest lures distributed by ULTIMATE FISHING.

Finally, you’ll set out aboard a Searibs 760 Pro, a generously sized RIB (7.60 m x 3.05 m) powered by a 300 cv Suzuki outboard motor. Comfort on board is guaranteed, along with fast travel to fishing spots and an exceptional ride out to sea!!

From lure fishing for sea bass to natural bait fishing for sea bream—there are many course options available depending on your preferences! I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.

Extend your stay at the Domaine de Rochevilaine with a boat trip from Sea Rent Concept.

Aboard a RIB, with or without a skipper, set out to explore the Breton coastline, the Gulf of Morbihan, Quiberon Bay, and the islands of Houat, Hoëdic, and Belle-Île-en-Mer.

A unique experience to discover Brittany in a whole new way, at the pace of the tides and according to your own desires.