La Roche-Bernard: Holiday Apartments and Houses

The Chapelle Notre-Dame became the first Protestant temple in Brittany in 1561. The present-day building dates from the 16th century, was completely restored in the 19th century and again in the 1980s, and now hosts temporary exhibitions and concerts.

Culture and History

Most of the buildings in the old districts of La Roche-Bernard date from the 16th and 17th centuries. The area is home to workshops run by potters, ceramicists, makers of art beads, stained-glass artists, glass-thread artists and sculptors. The Musée de la Vilaine maritime is housed in a building dating from the 16th to 17th century, built directly on the rock over five levels.

La Maison du Canon was added to the supplementary register of historic monuments in January 1941. Two cannons stand at the Quai de la Douane; they were salvaged from the warship Le Juste in 1981. The Parcours découverte is a 1.5-hour thematic walking tour about the history of La Roche-Bernard, featuring around ten wrought-iron information panels.

Water and Maritime Traditions

From the port of La Roche-Bernard, you can go canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the Vilaine. Les Vedettes Jaunes rents licence-free electric boats from La Roche-Bernard for trips on the Vilaine; the boats accommodate 5 to 8 people. From La Roche-Bernard, you can travel to Arzal with Les Vedettes Jaunes.

The Flottille Traditionnelle de Basse Vilaine is considered the largest concentration of traditional sailing boats in Brittany; some of the boats bear the “Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial” label.

Paths and Panoramas

The Site du Rocher offers views of the Vilaine, its bridges and the marina. From the old port, the riverside promenade leads to the Site du Rocher.

The Circuit des Ponts crosses several bridges, offers remarkable panoramas of the Vilaine and allows you to explore the historic centre of La Roche-Bernard. In places, it follows the long-distance hiking trails GR 39 and GR 349.

The Bern’Hart tourist train offers a 7-km, 40-minute circular tour with commentary, presenting the history of La Roche-Bernard and the Vilaine. The Bern’Hart route passes the rear harbour, the old districts, the town centre and the suspension bridge, and offers a panorama of the Vilaine.

Squares, Music and Cuisine

The Festival des Garennes is a free music festival held every summer in La Roche-Bernard. The Place du Bouffay hosts musical events, theatre performances, markets, concerts, dances and Fest Noz celebrations.

The Crêperie de La Roche serves crêpes and galettes in a half-timbered house dating from the 15th century.

Discover More Places

Sérent, Pont-Scorff, Guilliers, Elven, Silfiac, Ploemel, Péaule, Réminiac

To the main travel overview: Morbihan.