Local Amenities
Whilst La Belle Vilaine gites are situated in a quiet hamlet in the countryside, all necessary amenities are easily accessible by car -
5 minutes to Nivillac, for boulangerie (bread and groceries), post office, bars, tabac (newsagent - postcards etc)
5 minutes to St. Dolay, for all the above, plus a chemists, and a butchers.
10 minutes to La Roche Bernard - see Local Area
The St. Dolay and Nivillac boulangeries both provide a mobile service, stopping at the gites every day (except Sunday, when they trade from the square at St. Cry at 10.15 am).
Local Bar - Le Cycriens, St. Cry
Around a 15 minute (1 mile) walk along country lanes and you come to the village square in St. Cry. The bar is a child- and dog-friendly establishment, run by a friendly, French couple. There is a free games area offering pool, bar-football, darts and a video games console. They offer very basic snacks (hot dogs / pizza wraps - no chips!). Close at 8 pm weekdays and Monday closed all day.
Click here for details and photographs of local traditional fêtes.
Adventure Parks
Tree-top adventure course - Guérande. We have not braved this ourselves, but have it on good authority from previous guests that it is great fun! (Open April - Sept).
Zap Paintball adventure park- apprx 25 mins drive
Set in woodland just north of Guérande. Also has an equestrian centre.
Adventure Quad - Auray (45 mins - 1 hour drive)
Courses set out for children from 6 years to adults. (Open Feb - Nov)
Dinosaur Park
Parc de Préhistoire de Bretagne - apprx. 45 mins
Set in 20 hectares, with 5 lakes. Life-size models help to tell the story of the region's pre-history through to the building of the menhir sites around 2000 BC- English translations.
Sailing
Ecole de Voile - La Roche-Bernard - apprx 10 mins drive.
Sailing lessons for children (sailing craft and kayaks) and boat hire on the banks of the River Vilaine. English-speaking instructors. There is also a circus school!
River Cruises
Vedettes Jaunes - La Roche-Bernard and Arzal
Take a cruise up the river - with or without meal. Prices for 2006 were in the region of 38 euros per head for a 4-hour cruise and 5-course meal.
Pony Trekking
There are several centres which offer horse riding / pony trekking in the area, some of which take you through the Grande Brière nature reserve.
Birdwatching
La Belle Vilaine garden - on-site!
See Nature Notes and Wildlife pages.
La Grande Brière nature reserve - apprx. 20 min drive.
A miniature version of the Norfolk Broads. Several way-marked walks take you through the marshes. You can also explore the area by horse-drawn cart, by punt with a guided tour or by hiring a rowing boat and following the way-marked routes through the peat-rich canals. Bird highlights include Black Kites, Purple Heron and Bluethroat for the birds and Swallowtail and Camberwell Beauty for the butterflies (Apr. - Sept.), Marsh Harrier and Sacred Ibis (resident), Cattle Egret (winter).
Sept Iles Nature Reserve - Golfe du Morbihan - apprx. 30 - 40 mins drive
Several companies offer boat trips in the Golfe, some of which include sorties onto the islands. Prices in 2005 started from 14 euros for an adult.
Vilaine Estuary - apprx. 20 mins drive
A mixture of rocky coastlines, sandy coves, lagoon marshes and mudflats. The way-marked cliff-top walk is worth following if only for the spectacular views - perhaps topped-off by a meal in the sea-front restaurant at the Pointe de Bille.
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Châteaux
Château de Ranrouët is situated in Herbignac, just into the Loire Atlantique region and is approximately 20 minutes drive away. During July & August they stage enjoyable re-enactments here.
Le Château de Léhélec this Louis XIII castle is set on the other side of the river at Béganne. Guided tours available July & August. This is approx 20 minute drive away.
Château de Careil between La Baule & Guérande offers guided tours (English spoken) & animated candle-lit soirées during July & August and again only about 25 minutes away.
There are a number of other Châteaux in the region all within easy reach by car.
Other Attractions
The city of St Nazaire is home to a museum of maritime - including an old cruise liner, a submarine and a Naval boatyard. You can also explore the production line of the A380 Airbus aeroplane here. A further 30 minutes drive will bring you to the city of Nantes where you can go on board the Naval destroyer Maillé - Brézé which is now a floating museum.
La Maison du Cidre - situated on the Presqu'île de Rhuys, approx. 30 minutes drive - offers guided tours and cider tasting.
La Maison de la Mytiliculture - at Penestin approx. 30 minutes' drive - one of many oyster farms in the region offering guided tours and sales.
Menhirs - the region is littered with ancient standing stones. The largest site being at Carnac. west of Vannes.
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Self-catering, holiday cottages on the South Brittany/Loire Atlantique border in France.
Friendly family run gite accommodation where dogs are welcome.
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