For the new year several Douarnenistes led by the artitist Émilie Vincent came down to the beach to create a big mandala of solidarity to support all the Syrians caught in the war. Even a small community at the far end of the Finisterre can express its compassion for others as we step into a new year.
For more info check out the Ouest-France article and video.
It was recently announced that the Plage des Sables Blancs in Tréboul will be the site of an open water swimming marathon on July 15th and 16th 2017.
they hope to attract 150-200 swimmers who will compete over several distances 1, 2, 2.5 and 5km.
For more information check out http://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/douarnenez/nage-en-eau-libre-grand-rendez-vous-en-juillet-aux-sables-blancs-04-01-2017-11351660.php
Have you ever wanted to learn how to move a small boat without a motor in a harbour? Sign up between the 20th and 23rd of July for a lesson in the ancient art of the Yuloh or “Godille” in French.
For more information go to the Temps des Fêtes website: http://www.tempsfete.com/programme/activites-maritimes/godille-3/
There will be contests each evening from 19h30 to 20h30 and a grand final competition on July 24th from 15h30 to 17h30
Every two years there is a great pilgrimage of hundreds of classic working boats from Brest to Douarnenez. This will start with a week of festivities in Brest from July 13th to the 19th when the entire flotilla passes around the Cape de la Chèvre and into the the bay of Douarnenez. The maritime festival Temps des Fête will take place from the 19th to the 24th of July.
Photos from our beautiful cycling trip along the canal from Chateaulin to Pontivy and then down the Blavet to Lorient. Roughly 260 km covered over four days.
We were fortunate to have a period of very comfortable slightly overcast skies that made the ride very pleasant. The previous week had been quite hot, the beauty of the Canal de Nantes a Brest is that much of the tow paths are lined with large mature trees that provide shade and keep the path cooler.
While France is gripped in a canicule the Finistère has idéal weather, sun, Light breeze and warm water.
If cycling is your thing, the countryside in the Finisterre is a feast of beautiful rolling hills and stunning coastal viewpoints connected by quiet country roads.
One excellent bonus is the old rail line from Quimper to Douarnenez that was decomissioned in the 80’s has been converted to a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. Called a voie verte it is not easy to find the trailhead just outside of Quimer.
I found some good maps that have the directions from the Quimper train station. To the voie verte.
Map Leaving the station: http://www.voiesvertes.com/images_web/cartes/zooms/ZQuimper.pdf
Map Finding the route verte Start at Ty Planche; http://www.voiesvertes.com/htm_partenaire/detaille29QuiDo1.htm
Arriving in Douarnenez: http://www.voiesvertes.com/htm_partenaire/detaille29QuiDo2.htm
And the map of the last section to our house: http://www.voiesvertes.com/images_web/cartes/zooms/ZDouarnenez.pdf
This is about 25 km of well graded gravel path which is a pleasure to ride. We’ve used it to do a nice day trip to Quimper.
If bringing a bicycle or renting one for your stay is not your thing, it is also possible to catch a bus at the train station to Douarnenez.
Just 83km trip from Douarnenez the town of Morlaix will be hosting the Entre Terre et Mer festival this summer in July (2-5)
It will be worth at least a day trip.
If you are on the bay of Douarnenez in May, then it is imperative to come down to the beach of St. Anne la Palud for the Festival Breizh Wind. Taking place May 9th and 10th.
Then La Semaine du Golfe festival kicks off on the 11th of May and runs all week to the 17th with a jammed schedule of events. The Morbihan Golfe is just south of Vannes which is 144km from Douarnenez.
This is one of the greatest opportunities to see one of the worlds largest wooden boat gatherings. Throughout the week there will be innumerable cultural activities and beautiful boats to see. This year the honorary guest is Croatia and they will bring their traditional gajeta falkusa to the festival.
Plomarc'h Bleunioù: the flower of the Plomarc'h 