Brittany, France
Brittany is wonderful, relaxed and so are my tours! The itinerary is open to changes, spontaneity and surprises! I took the most of the following photos myself during my many research trips to Brittany so you know they are real! I truly fell in love with the culture, the country and the people and am looking forward to sharing that with you. The most special part of the trip will be meeting many of Brittany’s finest musicians !
Nancy Covey
Due to the personal nature of the tour we will have limited attendance!
ITINERARY
Celtic Music, Art & Culture
September 5-21, 2023
Paris • Rennes • Quimper • Vannes • Mont Saint Michel
Ile d’Ouessant
Tuesday 9/5/23 - PARIS
Our tour begins with dinner at a charming restaurant in my favorite part of of Paris, Saint Germain Des Pres! (Hotel not included)
Wednesday 9/6- PARIS / CHARTRES / RENNES
Leave for Brittany! Lunch in Chartres, known for it’s magnificent cathedral, one of the most authentic and complete works of religious architecture of the early 13th century.
Rennes, the vibrant capitol of Brittany! Check into The Balthazar, our 5-star boutique hotel. Dinner tonight is with Brittany’s premier musician, Ronan Pellen, who will give us an overview of Breton music and culture to set the stage for everything we’re about to experience!
Thursday 9/7 RENNES
Morning in the green countryside for a tour of the family owned Coat-Albret Ciderie, which uses traditional methods for making Brittany’s favorite alcoholic drink. Lunch is at the picturesque Restaurant Les Forges de Paimpont.
This afternoon we have private Breton dance lessons so we’re ready for tomorrow’s “Fest Noz” concert & dance! We’ll also learn to make Brittany’s famous crepes. Evening free.
Friday 9/8 RENNES / FEST NOZ
A day to explore Rennes! Wander through the Old Town with it’s half timbered houses and medieval streets, visit the Rennes Cathedral or duck into one of Rennes museums..
Tonight is a very special Fest Noz with two of the best bands in Brittany! Hamon Martin Quintet, masters of Breton music, plus an exciting new band featuring Brittany’s young superstar players. This is an amazing double bill that our tour has helped make possible!
Saturday 9/9 CHATEAU LE BROSSAY
Heading out through the Breton countryside we arrive at Chateau Le Brossay, a neo classical castle that has been in the same family since it’s inception and is now famous for the family’s Tattinger Champagne. Classified as a historical monument, Le Brossay will be our private home for the next two nights. We’ll enjoy dinner as we settle in to our own castle!
Sunday 9/10 CHATEAU LE BROSSAY
A perfect day for R&R! Set in the heart of an extensive park with paths, lake and a forest border, Chateau Le Brossay is ideal for walking , swimming or just relaxing. You’ll have the option for yoga, massage or biking to the local village for a picnic on the river. This evening savor a candlelit French dinner featuring local produce served in the Chateau’s ornate dining room.
Monday 9/11 NANTES
Nantes, is a vibrant university town on Brittany’s southern border. It boasts the stunning Chateau Des Duc de Bretagne, home to Anne, the Duchess of Brittany and later Queen of France. The fascinating Les Machines de L’ine museum is like no other!
Nantes has an exciting music scene with a proliferation of Irish pubs which is woven into the Breton Celtic culture. Tonight we’ll enjoy an Irish music session with 3 great players David Lombardi, Jean Damel and Calum Stewart on the pipes.
Tuesday 9/12
Morning for more exploration of Nantes. After lunch we head towards the coast to Guerande, home of the world’s finest salt. These protected salt marshes have been used in the production of salt for hundreds of years and still use old style methods in the farming of this precious ingredient. We’ll have a special tour to see firsthand how this is done.
We end our day in the enchanting city of Vannes, a walled town with cobbled streets, a medieval gate and colorful half-timber houses.
Wednesday 9/13 VANNES
This morning is a private visit with Brittany’s most famous bagpipe and bombarde makers at their traditional factory, Atelier Tudual Hervieux followed by a Portside lunch overlooking the gorgeous Golf du Morbihan.
Thursday 9/14 VANNES / CARNAC
Magnificent Carnac is the awe inspiring site of more than 10,000 Neolithic standing stones, also known as menhirs, hewn from local rock erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany.
After getting stoned we’ll have a lunch and music at the rustic Breton cottage of Fairport Convention’s most congenital host, bassist Dave Pegg . This will be an extremely fun afternoon!
Friday 9/15 QUIMPER / SIZUN
Traveling northwest we spend the day in Quimper where the Faience pottery factory has been hand painting its wares since 1708. With an awe inspiring Gothic-style Cathedral at the center, Quimper’s old town has half timbered houses and lovely cobblestone streets.
Tonight we’re invited to a “Cochon Grille” & Fest Noz at a private mountain home in Sizun with traditional Breton musicians of this region who have been playing informally together for decades. We’ll eat, sing, dance and mingle with local Bretons who are opening their home and hearts to us.
Saturday 9/16 QUIMPER/ CHATEAU COLUMBIER
Today the family owned Chateau Columbier , built in 1715, welcomes us for an afternoon of gardens and games before a delicious dinner of Breton specialties. Once again we have the entire chateau to ourselves so we’ve invited musicians to join us that evening.
Sunday 9/17 MONT SAINT MICHEL / LE CONQUET
A day to visit the stunning island of Mont Saint Michel, a well deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bordering Normandy and Brittany, with a gravity defying Abbey, Mont Saint Michel is a magnificent place that shouldn’t be missed.
We return to the wild west coast of Brittany to spend the night in Le Conquet, ready to catch the morning boat. Although a small village, Le Conquet boasts a lighthouse as well as a Michelin starred restaurant.
Ronan Pellan and Nancy Covey at Mont Saint Michel
Monday 9/18 ILE D’OUESSANT
We’ve saved the best for last ! In the morning we board the boat for the enchanting Isle of Ouessant, which is the far westernmost point in France. Wild and remote, this tiny island has a population of less than 1,000 but still manages to have 5 lighthouses, one of which is the largest in the world!
Mysterious Ouessant is the perfect setting for a concert with Brittany’s finest traditional singer, Annie Ebrel.
Tuesday 9/19 OUESSANT
A full day in Ouessant . There truly is a magic to this island that is intoxicating. The best way to explore is by foot, or bike (traditional or electric) which seems to be the main form of transportation. We will share food and music with local islanders as the perfect way to finish our Brittany Experience .
Wednesday 9/20 OUESSANT / RENNES
After taking the boat back to the mainland, we return to our luxurious hotel in Rennes. We’ll have farewell drinks and a free night for dinner and/or music. Wednesdays is the weekly Irish jam session at the Mod Koz, a fun, woman-owned Breton bar which is a favorite spot for local musicians…. and the special place where my Brittany Tour research began 5 years ago. The perfect way to end our trip!
Thursday 9/21 RENNES
Tour ends after breakfast.
Frequent high speed trains from Rennes to either Paris or Charles de Gaulle Airport are less than 2 hours! You will book your transportation independently so you can design the rest of your trip in France.
