Day 1: Vannes to La Baule: 128 km – Brittany coast
I decided to start my ride from my parents’ home, near Vannes, to go towards La Baule. The weather is nice, the temperature is mild, no wind. These are the perfect conditions for a beautiful day on my bike. Thus, I can ride « light »: a mid-season long sleeve jersey, a pair of gloves (that will stay in my pocket the two days), a neck warmer and a light cap. The bib tights are required. My 3T Strada Pro Force is ready, let’s go!
In my region, Brittany, there are no mountains. However, we are fortunate to have the sea nearby; it will be the theme of my first ride. Tomorrow, I will drive you through the most beautiful local villages whose ancient and authentic centers are one of the tourist attractions of the region, our second theme.
My journey takes me by Vannes, the prefecture of Morbihan. I make a brief stop at the port, just to enjoy the sun and the atmosphere around the fortifications of the city.
I’ll take you inside tomorrow. For the moment, I let you enjoy the gardens that border the fortifications. They are lovely, isn’t it ?
I continue my trip to Arzal, known for its dam estuary, the longest in Europe with 500 meters long. Before that, I evolve on beautiful straight lines on which I can enjoy the speed of 3T Strada. The bike just wants to accelerate while remaining a disconcerting ease. It’s a delight!
I arrive quickly in Arzal where my meeting with the sea begins. I take the opportunity to stop to lunch in front of it.
The landscape flattens and the weather start to be covered as the afternoon goes by. I unfortunately can not make you enjoy the ocean under the sun. I am disappointed but not surprised. The weather changes quickly here.
I cross the different coastal villages: Mesquer, Piriac-sur-Mer or La Turballe. These are pretty villages, facing the ocean, which have kept some authenticity around the port of the city. In this season, it’s quiet. I can enjoy it more easily than in summer because these villages are composed of many vacation houses.
After La Turballe, I enter the marshes, a particular space. There are many here and most of them are used for salt production. The most famous are the salt marshes of Guérande, spread over 20 square kilometers. I like this place because the road twists between the swamps, as if we were going to get lost. When there is wind, it happens to me to ride there with friends and we have fun making echelons. There is a sign at the end of the marsh: the first to arrive is the winner. It’s a great playground! Today, I cross the marshes more quietly. Or maybe not, the Strada is so fast. It makes me want to press a little on the pedals!
The marches of Guérande behind us, I take you to Le Croisic. The legs are good for me, I will be able to make you visit the port and go around the peninsula. The village has kept an authentic spirit and lives around its pretty harbor. The peninsula is a nice place to ride. The road runs close to the sea and the coast is very rugged, with emerging rocks. It’s cool to see when the sea is choppy.
I have about twenty kilometers before arriving home. Some rain drops tell me that I must not hang out on the way. I finally arrive on the embankment of La Baule, 6 kilometers long. For beach lovers, it’s the best. Personally, that’s not my thing.
I finally arrive at home, thus ending this beautiful bike day. I am surprised to see how well I finish. I am amazed by the comfort qualities of 3T Strada. The bike succeeds the feat of mixing performance and comfort. Hat off !
Day 2: La Baule to Vannes: 133 km – Brittany land
The sun is back for this second day of ride. Today, I take you back to Vannes through the lands and the different historic cities of the region: Guérande, La Roche-Bernard, Rochefort-en-Terre and finally Vannes that you have seen a little yesterday. Today, I keep the same equipment except for my long tights that I exchange for a ¾ tights because I had a little too hot yesterday.
I begin my trip on the embankment to see the ocean and to enjoy the weather conditions. They are perfect!
First, we are going to Guérande, whose bulwarks are the pride of the city. It is a city with a strong medieval accent. Inside this stone wall, the city has kept its soul of yesteryear with narrow and paved streets.
The Saint-Michel gate is the emblem of the city. It is huge and imposing with its two great towers. The fortifications have been very well preserved.
Then, I am going to La Roche-Bernard, a village for which I have a lot of affection. It borders the Vilaine River, where there are many viewpoints around it. The village is built above its old port, on a rocky slope.
Small steep streets lead to the top of the village, testifying to an ancient past. I often come here, whether by bike, running or simply to walk around. We always have this magnificent view of the Vilaine in sight, it is a charming place.
I take the road in the Morbihan countryside where I find a forest and hilly landscape that I particularly appreciate.
At ease on my 3T Strada, I arrive quietly in the village of Rochefort-en-Terre, voted Favorite Village of the French by a famous French TV show in 2016. The village is built on a rocky outcrop. There are houses of another time, between which are stuck small paved streets. It is a village that has a lot of charm and deserves to be visited.
I continue my journey, direction Vannes. On my way, I go to see the Halles de Questembert, classified as a historical monument. They were built in 1552 and what makes them special is its wooden frame.
After a countryside section, I arrive in Vannes, the last historic city of this trip. I ride again in front of the beautiful gardens before entering inside the bulwarks. I climb the cobbled streets of the downtown, ride along the huge cathedral and arrive in front of the half-timbered houses dating from the 16th century. There are 170 in Vannes.
I leave Vannes to go back to my parents’ home, but I will make a small detour before that. My trip could not end without going through the Gulf of Morbihan. It’s a small inland sea that contains many islands (their exact number varies according to the tides). This sea goes up in the surrounding rivers, which gives a particular landscape and brings a microclimate all around. I spent my youth on those lovely roads. It’s always a pleasure to come back here.
It would take a whole ride to make you discover it in its entirety (why not the theme of a new RIMBY …?), but I will show you the place I prefer, the old bridge of Le Bono. I love this place, this bridge over the sea, the forest on a side, the port and the village on the other. I really invite you to discover this place, which is not the best known of the region, but it is worth it.
I end my journey through Plougoumelen, another village bordered by the Gulf of Morbihan. Located at the top of a hill, I appreciate its different points of view on the gulf and the contrast between the countryside and the sea.
I make a last stop at a bakery to eat a pastry before achieving the few kilometers that separate me from my starting point.
I complete those two days with a total of 266 kilometers of fun. The 3T Strada performed wonderfully well. I felt really comfortable on it, thanks to its unexpected comfort. And what a pleasure when the bike takes a little speed! It has an impression of ease, it is amazing.
I hope you will enjoy this trip. If you come here, let me know, I will be happy to serve you as a guide!
Enjoy the GPS files and feel free to download them on KOMOOT!
