A Short Guide to the Best of La Roche-Bernard
Last Updated on 4th July 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Over 1,000 years ago, a Viking chief decided to build a settlement across a rocky outcrop next to the river in Brittany. Today, La Roche-Bernard is a charming Medieval town filled with charm and character, making for the perfect spot to spend a lazy morning or long afternoon. Here’s a short guide to the best things to do in La Roche-Bernard, a historic gem of western France!
Contents
Where is La Roche-Bernard?
Nestled along the banks of the River Vilaine, La Roche Bernard is a town situated south-east of Vannes. Which is found in the southern part of the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. La Roche-Bernard is listed as a ‘Small City of Character’, separated by two distinctive parts, the main town and the port area.
The population of La Roch Bernard is under 1,000 people, and the residents are called in French, Rochois for men and Rochoises for women.
A history of La Roche-Bernard
The town’s history dates back to 919 when it was founded by a Viking chief known as, Bern-hart. Favouring the strategic location next to the River Vilaine, Bern-hart decided to fortify and build a castle and settlement atop the rocky spur, naming it La Roche-Bernard.
During the Middle Ages, the port was a hive of activity, trading in cereals, wine salt etc. However, by the 19th century, much of this trading slowed as the economic activity of the area reduced, partly due to the new development of the railway.
Today, La Roche-Bernard is a place of heritage and traditions. A charming town to visit, it is perfect to explore over the course of an afternoon or morning. And, it is known to be particularly popular with British tourists who own private boats, the harbour area is a thriving yachting port.
Things to do in La Roche-Bernard
Wander through the town
Simply wandering through the cobbled streets or along the riverfront and soaking up the charming ambience of this quaint Brittany town is one of the best ways to experience it. Offering visitors a journey through time, the town is characterised by narrow lanes filled with rocky Medieval architecture and beautiful views onto the port area and river.
Highlights not to miss in the town:
- Notre Dame Church – A timeless Historic Monument from the 12th and 16th centuries, built Gothic-style and capped with a Romanesque bell tower.
- Maison du Canon – This house dates back to the 16th century and boasts historic features such as a clock and bell tower.
- Chateau des Basses Fosses – Called so because it’s built over five stories, this historic 16th and 17th-century mansion once housed several families before housing the Museum of the Vilaine Maritime.
- Maritime Museum of Vilaine River – Compromising eight different showrooms, the museum details local history with specific relation to the river, fishing, coastal sea trade, an the building of ships.
Dine along the waterfront
Peaceful and historic, La Roche-Bernard makes for a charming spot to dine, particularly along the waterfront. Here are some of the places we suggest eating out:
- La Douanerie: We personally dined here and enjoyed the outdoor terrace overlooking the river. They have a vegetarian option in the form of a veggie burger, but it must be said that their menu is definitely seafood focused.
- Le Sarah B: If you wish to dine here, make sure to make a reservation in advance as this eatery is pretty popular and space fills up fast.
Admire the boats in the port
Wander down to the harbour area of the town and admire the boats bobbing in the River Vilaine. In a place which now sits so tranquil, it’s probably hard to imagine that over a hundred years ago, this was one of the busiest ports in all of Brittany!
Climb onto the rock above town
For one of the best views of the town and surrounding landscape, head to the highest perch of La Roche-Bernard and marvel at captivating views atop a rock which is known as ‘site du rocher’ in French.
Admire the Pont Suspendu de La Roche-Bernard
Admire the suspension bridge that spans the River Vilaine, connecting the town to its neighbours Marzan and Nivillac. The bridge seen today is the second to have been built, after the first was destroyed by a storm, it was constructed in 1882.
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