La Chapelle Sainte Catherine

 Not far from Lizio we came across this beautiful chapel.

The chapel was built on the pilgrim route to Compostelle in Spain

The original 13th century building was destroyed in a fire...

...its replacement constructed in the 17th century.

The interior is very simple...

...with an interesting use of pale duck blue.

Outside the gang had time to relax in the sunshine

Malestroit & Lizio

Continuing our journey we had several more stops, firstly Malestroit where 'Er from Brittany convalesced after her hip operation.

It was a perfect day for a stroll along the river Oust...

...and an excellent spot for a picnic.

In the town we enjoyed a drink opposite l'Église Saint Gilles with its impressive doorway...

...complete with Mr Ox keeping an eye on us.

It's a beautiful town with many half-timbered buildings.

Moving on to Lizio, a sleepy village.

There wasn't a soul to be seen

I think the creepers were taking over this cottage

A statue in the public garden (it could be Saint Lubin, but I'm not sure).

Maryse hard at work on a cycle-powered carousel!

Les Menhirs de Monteneuf

En route for our next destination we stopped at Monteneuf to explore the neolithic site dating back to 3500 BC.

Amazingly it wasn't until the 1970s that the site was discovered after forest fires in drought times.

There's a lovely walk through the woods...

...when you come across standing stones, some in lines.

I think two neolithic people were playing hide-and-seek!

Maryse showing how strong she is...

...and Tine posing elsewhere.

The rest of the gang: Maryse, Isabelle, Guy & Yves.

It looked like some spiders had been busy.

A cèpe, a very popular mushroom in France. Locals normally have their secret spot to pick them.

Later there was a reconstruction of what a neolithic home might have looked like.

On the way back to the car this tree's roots seem to have captured the stone!

Le Gacilly

Major road works delayed our arrival at the first destination, Le Gacilly, but it was well worth it.

Think of a very floral Haworth or Hebden Bridge...

...and you've got Le Gacilly.

Some houses go to a lot of effort with their decorations...

...whilst one celebrates the original home of Yves Rocher.

Like Haworth there's a steam-punk element to the town too...

...with some fantastic creations.

The last L'Aff? (Well the river's name amused me!)

Next morning we walked above the town to Cournon

The sun peeping through the woodlands.

Beautiful sweet chestnut.

At the top of the hill a beautiful bronze statue, representing plants' rebirth from deforestation.

Brittany with les z'amis

We were invited to join La Tranche friends Guy & Isabelle and Maryse & Yves for a few days in Brittany. Of course we jumped at the chance.

All packed into one car off we set, first stop Redon.

Boats are a big thing in the town which lies the between the Oust and Vilaine rivers...

...the Nantes-Brest canal running through its centre.

We were lucky to see a boat going through the locks, a reminder of our previous life by the Five Rise Locks in Bingley.

The steeple of l'Abbaye de Saint-Sauveur watches over the medieval town...

...with its many half-timbered houses.

An impressive row of houses.

Tine & Maryse going all Bretonne!

'Scènes du temps passé', graffiti from 1982 representing three old ladies in silk headdresses.

In 2020 the original artist brought his work up-to-date.

Back to the Nantes-Brest canal...

...and a picnic before returning to the car.