Hey folks,
today it's about Brittany again - and here a very special part. Namely about "Ville Close" - a neighborhood that is completely enclosed by water and walls. And that in the city of Concarneau.
Concarneau - the blue city
Concarneau is located in Quimper and in the department of Finistère. The town is located directly on the east coast of the Baie de La Forêt. What makes the city so special: Its old town is half "in the sea" or actually under it. That sounds very difficult to imagine at first. This is made possible by the fact that the old town is surrounded by fortress walls. But that's not the only thing that makes it very special: If you walk along the many alleys and former battlements, you will discover fishing harbors and great beaches.
Because the city of Concarneau is not one of the most visited places in Brittany for nothing: it has super much art and history to offer.
Especially the walls already show how much history is really in the city: the fortress walls are from the 14th century. They were not completely finished until the 17th century.
The harbor also has a lot to offer: There are a lot of fishing boats here, fine sandy beaches and a marina.
"Porte au vin"
Small tip: If you want to visit the city in the summer (which is definitely recommended ;)), then visit the city best already in the morning.
And this is the landmark of the city: a bell tower and the dial of the sundial.
Through two small bridges you enter the city itself through a gate in the city wall.The bridge then turns into Rue Vauban on the island, the main street of the Ville Close. Following the street a few meters, it then becomes Rue Saint-Guénolé. If you continue along this street, you will reach the eastern end of the neighborhood.
At the eastern end there is an opening in the walls, the "Porte au vin". Here you have a great view of the sea. The name comes from the fact that here the ships delivered wine for the residents and for a former castle in the southeast corner.
The cityscape is characterized by cobbled streets and the fishing port as a popular place of traffic. In addition, there is a great fountain at the Place Saint-Guénolé.
"Ville Close" - some time ago a feared retreat for thieves and pirates.
And now a bit of history, which you will never be missing from my posts: The district "Ville Close" was built to serve as an island fortress.
Although the fortress is located right on the harbor, it did not withstand all attacks. There were several changes of power here, especially during the conflicts over the affiliation of Brittany.
What I found very interesting was that the "Ville Close" was for some time a feared retreat for thieves and pirates.
"Fête des Filets Bleus"
And there is everything in Concarneau: restaurants, cafes, crêperies and small stores and beautiful half-timbered houses.
What you should definitely keep in mind during a visit: You should not take the car "inside", but leave it in front of the fortress wall.
Apart from the beautiful walls and the great history behind the walls, the port here is one of the most important fishing ports in France. Even today, the modern part of the port is responsible for most of the sales of tuna in Europe. If you want to learn more about the fishing of this city, check out the fishing museum "Musee de la Peche" - you'll also find it inside the walls of the Ville Close.
The "Fête des Filets Bleus" also has a long tradition here. The "Festival of the blue nets" has its origins in 1905, when the sardines stayed away from the fishing grounds and the city, which otherwise lives from fishing, was in great need. Today, with traditional instruments, the festival is one of the largest festivals of Breton and Celtic culture. It always takes place in mid-August (also definitely a good time to visit the town).
I hope you liked the post, feel free to write me your feedback in the comments :) til next time !
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1169.
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