Best Things To Do in Pont-l’Abbé, Brittany Road Trip
Pont-l’Abbé is one of the places we visited on the road trip through French Brittany.
In French, this town is part of art and history cities and historic cities: “Villes d’Art et Histoire et Villes Historiques.”
In today’s post, I want to tell you what to see and do in Pont-l’Abbé. What are the must-see places you need to know and some close visits you can make?
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Visits Pont-l’Abbé in Brittany
Pont-l’Abbé is a small but very picturesque town. There’s usually room near the inhabited bridge, and you take a walk quietly from there.
The Church of Lambour
It depends on where you park your car; this may be your first or last visit.
This church was built in the 13th century, and during the 1675 revolt, they toppled the Belltower. So today we can see its ruins, which you can visit all year.
The Port and the Inhabited Bridge
During centuries XVIII and XIX, the port of Pont-l’Abbé was a vital commercial place. Here the grain, fish, and potatoes were exported, and the wine, salt, and spices were imported.
Today we can see some boats, mostly recreational. But it’s a very nice place to take a walk and see the city’s inhabited bridge. The bridge is one of the nine inhabited bridges in France.
Le Chateau des Barons du Pont
This castle was built between the 13th and 14th centuries to serve as a fortress for Baroness du Pont.
In 1675, the revolt was called “the revolt of the hats ” where the inhabitants protested against the new tax hike. As a result, they destroyed and burned the castle.
In the early 18th century, the main building was rebuilt. It was used as a prison during the revolution, and today is the Town Hall of Pont-l’Abbé and the Bigouden Museum.
The Monument to the Bigoudens of Pont-l’Abbé
This work of granite and bronze by Francois Bazin won the National Prize in 1929. This work represents 4 women and a girl: grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, and the young daughter, the five ages of life.
They’re thinking about their children, siblings, husbands, and grandchildren, who fight the storms in the sea.
On the sides, you’ll see two low bronze reliefs illustrating scenes of Celtic mythology.
The Church of Notre Dame des Carmes
The Church of Notre Dame des Carmes (Our Lady of the Carmelites) is the former chapel Carmelite convent founded in 1383 by Baron Hervé IV Du Pont and his wife Péronnelle de Rochefort.
Who appealed to the religion of the order of Mount Carmel to instruct and catechize the people in his domain.
It is built a convent, a cloister, and a church; the works were completed in 1411.
In 1792, the convent and the cloister were sold as national property, and the church became a parish. In 1879, the city bought the convent to convert it into a school. In 1880 the cloister was demolished located in the southern area.
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Please pay attention to the bell tower of 1603 and its 15th-century rose window.
After visit the church, go down Church Street (Rue de l’Eglise) and walk a little bit through the streets Pasteur, Marceau, Château, des Carmes…
Gambetta Square and Republic Square
These two squares were important places of commerce in Pont-l’Abbé. and they still do every Thursday nowadays, the largest market in the region takes place here.
What to See Near Pont-l’Abbé
Near Pont-l’Abbé there are very cool places to visit. Unfortunately, we only saw the lighthouse of Eckmel because we were running out of time. But you can continue the visit, and you tell us your experiences.
- Lighthouse of Elckmel, climb its steps and contemplate the view from the heights. Walk the coast to St. Guénolé. Don’t forget to try the sweet crepes, and they are typical of this area.
- Le Guilvinec. It’s very interesting to go to the port when the fishermen return.
- Lesconil. If you go on a stormy day, it’s great for watching the waves break against the locks.
- Ile-Tudy, ideal for a bike ride.
Plan Your Trip to Brittany
- Best things to do in Nantes
- Best Travel Insurance for your trips
- Everything you need to know before traveling to France
Last Updated on 1 September, 2023 by Veronica