CENTRAL BRITTANY by Kim Kaye

LAC DE GUERLEDAN

Situated in the heart of Central Brittany, Lac De Guerledan is probably one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of the area. Measuring 12km in length, it was originally constructed for a hydro electricity station back in the 1920s. With a dam measuring 46m high by 206m wide and 36m deep at its base, it is the largest in Brittany.

In order to build the lake and its barrage, a total of 12km of The Blavet Valley had to be flooded, engulfing 400 hectares of woodland, houses, locks and lock houses from the original canal. When the lake is drained every 10 years for maintenance these lost dwellings can be seen again, giving an almost ghostly feel.

However, along with its construction there came a price, as it meant that it was no longer possible to travel continuously along and through the Nantes Brest Canal. A series of locks would have enabled this but the plan was deemed too expensive at the time.

Whoever could have imagined at its completion all those years ago its popularity today: its many, many visitors who enjoy holidaying in Brittany and come to the lake and its picturesque setting for water sports, cycling and boating, to sample the restaurants and cafes, relax along its waters edge with a picnic, or take one of the many walks.
 

A recently completed footpath encircles the lake, following its shoreline as closely as possible. These walks and cycle paths are colour coded for length and difficulty. All the routes are available from the Tourist information Office in Mur De Bretagne.

 

PLACES OF INTEREST AT THE LAKE

 

BEAU RIVAGE

On the northern side of the lake is the small resort of Beau Rivage. With its small selection of restaurants and sandy beach, it offers something for all the family. In the summer the lake is alive with boats and people enjoying the water sport facilities that are on offer; the less adventurous can take a leisurely trip on a boat, from which it is possible to appreciate the size of the lake as well as its surrounding countryside. A day out to be enjoyed by the young and not so young!

 

ABBEY DE BON REPOS

Still on the northern side of the lake are the ruins of Abbey de Bon Repos. An abbey was first built here in the 12th century and is now very slowly being restored to create a cultural centre for research into monastic life and art, and on Breton history. Its former outbuildings have already been renovated and are now a craft shop, hotel and restaurant.

Situated alongside the River Balvet, the abbey itself can look almost austere in its grandeur, but the setting itself is very pretty, and lends itself to a lovely afternoon out.

 

LES FORGES DES SALLES

On the southern side of the lake is Les Forges De Salles. An ironworks village dating from the 18th century. and set around three lakes within its own valley, it looks more like a chateau than a foundry. But a foundry it was from the middle ages until the 17th century, although at this time it was all on a very small scale. Then in the 18th century the Duke de Rohan decided to start up a much larger scale ironworks. Huge slabs of cut iron were made and transported via the Nantes Brest Canal to the naval yards of Brest.

Today, thirty buildings have been restored or rebuilt and house models, exhibitions, and reconstructions with sound-track, together giving the visitor a fascinating record of the industrial and social history of the area in the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

ANSE DE SORDAN

Still on the southern side of the lake is the small resort Anse de Sordan. It may not be as large as Beau Rivage, but with a small man-made beach and bar/restaurant offering panoramic views of the lake, it's as pretty a spot as anywhere around the lake.

 

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