Morbilhan - translated from Breton - means "little sea". The unique configuration of the bay, a large influx of fresh water, strong currents and a warm microclimate have created its unique landscape over the centuries.
The “Little Sea”, with an area of 12 thousand hectares, is surrounded by land on almost all sides. Numerous islands in the bay are hilltops that have been submerged by rising sea levels. Powerful currents rage here, and the tide floods the small isthmuses connecting the islands.
These islands — the homeland of the most skilled sailors of Brittany, accustomed from childhood to maneuvering in the labyrinths between tiny pieces of land. People settled in these areas back in the Stone Age. Evidence of this is the numerous megaliths (prehistoric structures made of large stone blocks) on the shores of the bay.
In the 1st century BC, the Veneti lived here, who were the most powerful people of the Brittany Peninsula, Armor (Armorica - Normandy and Brittany among the ancient Celts), and had an invincible fleet. However, Caesar defeated them: he attacked the Veneti during a calm, when their ships were defenseless, and the Romans were on flat oared ships...
According to legend, fairies lived in the famous Brocéliande forest (now the Pampon forest), located near the town of Vannes (many miracles happened in this forest, the knights of the Round Table fought in duels here, according to legend, there is a grave Merlin). Leaving the forest, they shed so many tears that an inland sea appeared – Gulf of Morbihan. The fairies threw their flower wreaths into the water – and many islands appeared in the bay...
Any of these islands can be reached by boat, yacht, boat or any other floating craft. On the island of Monks (Ile aux Moines) you will be incredibly amazed by the fact that at 47.5° northern latitude (and this roughly corresponds to Rostov-on-Don and Astrakhan), it turns out that oranges, palm trees and mimosas can grow. All thanks to the microclimate - Celsius never drops below zero here.
On the islet of Gavrinis (Ile de Gavrinis) there is a whole complex of dolmens (these are ancient mystical structures, the age of which, according to some estimates, is 7-8 thousand years), interconnected underground (scientists called such a structure “core”). The ancient people painted the walls of the core with numerous mysterious symbols.
On the shore of the bay is the administrative center - the city of Vannes, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Brittany. It is surrounded by thick fortress walls with fabulous round towers and tiled roofs. Here is one of the most famous megalithic monuments in Europe — city of Karnak. Megalithic structures can be found everywhere in Morbihan – dolmens, cores, menirs…
In the spring and summer months, lovers of sea holidays and festivals come to the shores of the bay. The Scarlet Sails Festival brings together old sailing ships, carefully restored by their owners. And from the 14th to the 20th of the beautiful month of May, the Marine Festival “La semaine du golfe” is held. "Bay Week" Morbihan has been celebrated for several years now. Traditional and classic sailing ships, as well as historical reconstructed ships in the Seven Mixed Flotillas, take part in the festival. The Race of the Seven Fleets follows the rules of alternating 14 ports located at 4 different ends of the bay, and all this is accompanied by motorboat competitions, regattas and nightly fireworks.
Morbilhan is rightfully considered one of the five most beautiful bays in the world…
Marais is the quarter where kings lived in the 14th-16th centuries. It starts behind the City Hall, in which (in the previous building) the ball described by Dumas in the story with the queen’s pendants was held, and ends at the Place de la Bastille,
where the column with the Genius of Freedom rises and the modern Opera building flaunts. The outlines of the former fortress are paved with cobbleston...
Southern Burgundy is a country of its own.
Wine lovers will find a real treat here. Chalon and Maconian wines are among the finest wines of Burgundy; they have the characteristic taste of Burgundy wines, and the prices here are much more attractive than the prices of wines from the famous Gold Coast. Is it possible, having been here, not to try all this taste and olfactory diversity?
A lot of finds ...
The Church of Saint-Germain (Saint-Germain-des-Près) is the oldest in Paris, the only one of which a significant part dates back to the Romanesque era.
Its construction began in the 11th century, on the site of a previous church where the kings of the Merovingian dynasty were buried. Around the church for centuries there was a monastery, probably the largest in Europe. Members of royal families ser...