France – Rochefort-en-Terre (En)
Rochefort-en-Terre is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. Rochefort-en-Terre is a designated “Petite Cité de Caractère” and one of the most beautiful towns in France. The medieval chateau in the town was the home of American painter Alfred Klotses.
Where to stay
We stayed in the caravan area (47.699699, -2.33364 lat, long), a vast parking lot and cost 5 euros. It has no services other than being able to empty the trash, but it is right next to the centre of town. We spent two tranquil nights with other motorhomes and vans, it is very safe.
What to see
Rochefort-en-Terre is a tiny set of cobbled streets with granite houses with slate roofs, some in the shape of sumptuous mansions and others with original craft workshops. It is called the town of flowers and in addition to flowers, there are plenty of antique shops, bakeries, shops selling local products, classic sweets, craft beers, preserves, etc. And a few restaurants.
The first thing you come across is the Square las Halles where the fish market is located, and several peculiar buildings such as the Hotel Burban, a 17th-century palace, and the Hotel Le Pélican, the current Tourist Office and the Town Hall along whose façade runs a beautiful climber. Further on, you arrive at the Square du Puits, with its curious central well and its flower arrangement, which is the heart of the city and for me the most beautiful thing in the town.
The Sanctuary of Notre Dame de la Tronchaye from the 12th century which we were able to see inside. In the square before it, there is a small Calvary that reflects the Passion of Christ.
Then we pass one of the two large access gates to the town and a square where the library is located until we reach the entrance to the Rochefort Mansion, the former residence of the American painter Alfred Klots. The first thing you find when you enter is the Naia Museum, an art gallery of the imagination, with incredible exhibitions as you will see.
And through another door, you go to the Mansion and its gardens. The original fortress dates back to the 12th century, although it has undergone several renovations throughout its history. In fact, the current palatial touch is due to its owner at the beginning of the 20th century, the American artist Alfred Klots. On the property, there is also a chapel and impressive views of the town’s rooftops.
We left the mansion and went to look for a restaurant for lunch, there was one on the main street but it was completely full, so we decided to go to one of the restaurants outside the town, where we ate the dish of the day, I chose hake with rice and a cream sauce and Ben duck Parmentier. Both dishes are delicious, for 13 euros each.
And we finished our visit with a walk where we discovered an abandoned chapel.
And we went to Nantes a city on the Loire River in the Upper Brittany region of western France, and home to the restored, medieval Palace of Dukes of Brittany, which you can see in the next post.
