The local area

South Brittany Cottages / gites are situated around the private courtyard "La Cour" in a small hamlet called Paimbu, just 1 km from the village of Masserac. The village offers a boulangerie, grocery shop and cafe bar. The beautiful countryside surrounding the holiday gites is designated a protected natural habitat offering a superb area to walk and cycle. There are many marked walking and cycle trails to follow and plenty of places to enjoy a picnic. Why not make use of the large selection of bicycles as well as child seats and trailers to use free of charge to explore the area.

There are two local rivers, the Vilaine and the Don, the Vilaine has a pretty towpath which can be followed on cycle or foot and, of course, benefits from being completely flat - ideal for those feeling less energetic and for small children to manage. 
​"Le Bistrot" cafe bar in the neighbouring village of Brain-sur-Vilaine offers a quiet spot to enjoy a drink either on the outside terraces or in the comfortable salon, a relaxed cycle along the river tow path from the gites at La Cour will bring you here.
 
Just 10 minutes from La Cour and our Brittany holiday gites are the local towns of Guemene-Penfao and Redon. Guemene Penfao sits on the River Don and offers a supermarket and shops, weekly outdoor market, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, pony trekking along the valley of the River Don, canoe hire for paddling along the river and a selection of bars and restaurants. 
 
The larger town of Redon which sits on the junction of the Nantes-Brest canal and the River Vilaine has a wonderful historic port area. It offers hypermarkets, a beautiful, quaint high street with boutiques and cafes, a large, bustling, weekly artisanal and food market, electric boat hire for enjoying the river, a good selection of restaurants and a remarkable abbey and church to visit.​
Some ideas for days out...

Beaches

more about beaches...                                 
​The nearest coastal beaches are located in the charming towns of Damgan and Penestin, both with stunning sandy beaches and a good selection of shops and restaurants, just 37 miles from La Cour to beach. The larger resorts of LaTurballe & La Baule, where white sandy beaches stretch for several miles, are also within easy reach from our Brittany gites. 

Swimming Lakes

more about swimming lakes...
​​There are some wonderful swimming lakes with beaches within 15 minutes of  La Cour at South Brittany Cottages and gites. They offer a great environment for younger children with gently shelved beaches and, of course, no big waves to contend with. Here are a couple of our favourites:

Lake Aumee
This wonderful swimming lake with a beach and picnic area also offers the perfect place to play and relax with the children. For the more energetic there is also kayak, windsurfing and catamaran rentals, available from 1 hour to all day.
​
Lake Buhel
This stunning swimming lake with a beautiful beach offers a fantastic day out for all the family. There is a childrens park, cafe, picnic tables, toilets and showers - plenty to keep even the most active children amused!

Swimming Pools

more about swimming pools...
​There are some great indoor and outdoor pools with slides within 15 minutes of South Brittany Cottages and gites. Guemene-Penfao has a great family indoor pool offering both an indoor pool with an outdoor terrace on which to play and relax. As well as a large pool for swimmers, there is a paddling pool with a spouting mushroom and water jets and toys for younger children. The pool also offers a jacuzzi. Redon offers a larger indoor and outdoor pool with slides and large childrens area. The heated outdoor pool at Guenrouet is always a hit with young children. Set on the edge of the Nantes- Brest canal it has fun slides and terraces for relaxing.

Canoeing and Boating

more about canoeing and boating...
​Canoeing on the River Don
Discover the natural and historical heritage of the Don valley which is near to our gites at La Cour and hire a canoe. Hire for half day or whole day available.
 
Ile aux Pies canoe hire
Canoe hire around the beautiful Ile aux Pies. Canoes available for up to 18 people and also available with an instructor. If you don't fancy messing about on the water, this natural site is well worth visiting to enjoy the scenery.
 
Boat hire
Hire of electric river boats available either at La Gacilly or Redon. Available to hire for an hour, half day or whole day. A perfect way to explore the wonderful rivers and canals.

Walking

more about walking...
On the doorstep of our gites at La Cour you can enjoy a gentle stroll through woodlands and around small lakes, the area surrounding the gites is designated a protected natural habitat. Follow the local River Vilaine as it meanders across open fields and past picturesque hamlets & villages. You could spend a month walking in the Loire Atlantique and Southern Brittany and never cross the same path. There are 7000 miles of paths consisting of 800 walks that make their way through unspoilt countryside, across deep forests, follow grand rivers and along the seashore.

The Pays de Redon area is rich with protected natural areas and offers the perfect place to explore on foot...
We have many circular walk maps available for you in the cottages.

Cycling

more about cycling...
​Southern Brittany /Loire Atlantique is the most wonderful place to discover especially on a bicycle! That is why we offer a large range of bicycles from child to adult sizes for our guests to use free of charge. The area around our gites at La Cour offers the perfect place from which to cycle, the quiet lanes through the local quaint villages, designated cycle routes, paths that lead across the open countryside and river towpaths are all on the doorstep. We make sure that you can enjoy cycling as a family and provide child seats and child trailers (all free of charge) so even the littlest members of the family can join in.

We provide detailed maps of local routes offering a range of options for those wanting to meander out for half an hour to buy bread and croissants and relax with a coffee in the local village cafe bar or a cycle to the river picnic spot and enjoy a cold beer at the end of the day or longer routes for a half or full day out, perfect to enjoy a picnic on route or stop at a village restaurant for lunch - allowing for the return journey after lunch to be a little slower! Whatever your preference there will be a route to suit you!

Pony and Donkey Treks

more about pony treks...
​Pony trekking​
There are several stables around the area of our gites in Southern Brittany offering pony walks. Our favourites are situated at the Equestrian centres at Juzet and St Marie. They offer pony trekking for all the family, for the children there are beautiful Shetland Ponies. The treks explore the beautiful Don valley surrounding the centre at Juzet and the peaceful area surrounding St Marie. A magical day out.
 
Donkey Trekking
The wonderful farm at nearby St Just offers donkey treks around the beautiful megalithic site. Come and meet these lovely creatures whilst taking in the breathtaking scenery.

Adventure and Attraction Parks

more about ATTRACTION PARKS...
​Parc de Naudieres
Les Naudieres is a great attraction park for all the family. Rollercoasters, 15 different huge bouncy castles, ball parks, pedalos, a luge and plenty more to keep the whole family amused.
 
Wake Park, Plessé
Wakeboard, Wakeski, Wakeskate, Kneeboard and Stand up paddle boarding...so many adventures to be had on the lake at the Wake Park at nearby Plessé. For everyone from 8 years onwards.
 
Moulin Neuf Adventure Park
This super park located around a lake near Rochefort-en-Terre offers plenty of fun for all the family. On the water you can hire Stand Up paddles, pedalos, kayaks or run around in the giant water ball. If you prefer fun on dry land then why not try the Elliptigo cycles, Four wheel pedal karts, karts or the 300 metre descent zip wire!
New for 2019....Escape Game and Tree top nets!
 
Tepacap
On a natural site next to a lake a great forest adventure park with 10 different courses and more than 100 activities (monkey bridge, tarzan ropes) for children from 4 years old to adults. a great day out for all the family.
 
Enigmaparc
A unique indoor theme park! Discover 12 worlds full of riddles and test your skills of observation, deduction and puzzle solving to find the secret exits from the mazes. Follow in the footsteps of the explorer Enigmus to solve riddles on themes such as : ancient Egypt, medieval, the 30’s, Asia, South America, a Celtic village and Polynesia.
 
Youplakids
A great family indoor games park with ball pool, slides, inflatable castles, obstacle course, board games...dedicated to children from 1 to 12 years old.
 
​Solokart
A 775 metre long circuit for all those looking for adrenaline boosting races. The professional team at Solokart is there to guide you to have the best experience possible. Mini go karts available for children from 7 years old.
 

Animal Parks and Aquariums

more about ANIMAL PARKS...
Branfere Animal Park
Set in beautiful grounds the Branfere Animal Park offers a great experience. There are over 100 animals, some of which wander in semi-liberty. The bird show is not to be missed! The "Parcabout" adventure Park is included in the admission price - lots of fun playing or relaxing in the huge nets, ladders and walkways high up in the trees. Highly recommended!

Animal Park - Ferme du Monde
The "Ferme du Monde" Animal Park is set amongst 25 hectares of countryside where over 400 animals from all continents roam in semi-liberty. You can wander around the park on foot or by pedal-kart or take a tour on the train. Younger children will love the children's farm where they can pet, cuddle and feed the farm animals...donkeys, alpaca, goats, sheep and rabbits. There is a picnic area as well as a restaurant and shop.

Vannes Aquarium
Vannes is a beautiful walled city and also offers a wonderful aquarium. A great day out for the children to explore this underwater world. There are seahorse from the Gulf of Morbihan, crocodiles, electric eels, sharks and turtles to name but a few!

Croisic Ocearium
Le Croisic is nestled on a small coastal peninsula. A beautiful village to visit with breathtaking views over the Atlantic and small beaches and coves scattered across the coastline. As well as the village itself, children will love the nearby "Ocearium".

Animal Safari - Planete Sauvage
Visit this amazing animal safari park covering more than 320 acres, a preserved area that is home to nearly 2,000 animals and 200 different species. You can drive the reserve in your own car or take the off roader to take a tour. A great family day out!

Tropical Park
Tropical Parc is a leisure park which invites you to discover its tropical plants and gardens, its wild and exotic animals, its dinosaur and parrot park and its amazing show. Experience a unique adventure with the family in the heart of an 11-acre park and an 1000m² greenhouse and air-conditioned galleries.

The Butterfly Gardens
Experience the humid tropical gardens surrounded by orchids and tropical foliage and experience having butterflies fly freely around you. Discover the process of caterpillars metamorphosing into chrysalis and then into butterflies. A great day out for all the family!

Insectarium
Explore the magical world of insects at this insectarium with over 60 species displayed in their natural ecosystems. See Goliath, the worlds biggest scarabee as well as leaf insects and millipedes over 40 cm long.

Villages, Towns and Cities

more about towns & villages...
South Brittany Cottages / gites are situated an equidistance from the cities of Nantes, Rennes and Vannes, all easily reached in less than 1 hour. 

Nantes
Nantes is a beautiful city situated on the River Loire, the stunning Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany is a worthwhile visit whilst the amazing giant Mechanical Elephant is not to be missed. The cathedral and botanical gardens make peaceful and interesting places to wile away the time. 

Rennes
Rennes is the capital of Brittany and with it's abundance of architecture, the Breton Parliament building, museums and parks and gardens it is worth exploring for the day.

Vannes
The medieval streets which wind around the historic walled city of Vannes are a joy to visit. Situated on the harbour of the Gulf of Morbihan of Southern Brittany you can enjoy the architecture or the water on one of the boat trips. The aquarium and Butterfly Park are popular with families.

La Gacilly
The annual outdoor photo festival which runs from June to end of September is not to be missed. The town is brimming with little shops selling artisanal products and pretty pavement cafes and restaurants. La Gacilly is the home of Yves Rocher the pioneer of plant based toiletries, you can take a tour around their botanical gardens. There is the opportunity to hire boats to meander along the river.

Rochefort-en-Terre
This picturesque Southern Brittany village has been voted one of the most beautiful villages in France and it certainly lives up to it's reputation. The pretty cobbled streets are perfect for wandering and discovering the shops, bars and restaurants. Just outside the village you will find a lovely swimming lake with a sandy beach, a great place for a walk and picnic.

La Roche Bernard
A quaint town with plenty of history sitting on the banks of the River Vilaine. There are many restaurants, including good seafood restaurants, artisanal shops and bars. A stroll around the scenic port will not disappoint.

Guerande
This beautiful walled city is not to be missed. Pretty cobbled streets packed with bars, restaurants, shops and even a museum devoted to dolls. The amazing Guerande salt flats are close by and worth visiting.

Chateaubriant
As the name suggests Chateaubriant is a town built around a castle. There is also a beautiful church and a great weekly market held on a Wednesday. The Bere Fair is held during September and is one of the largest agricultural fairs in the area.
​
Josselin
A little further afield, Josselin is a beautiful Brittanytown on the banks of the Nantes Brest canal. The imposing medieval chateau is a must see as is the main town square surrounded by cobble streets.

Chateaux, Historic Sites and Museums

more about chateaux & museums...
Chateau de Lehelec
Built in 1660 in the style of Louis Xlll. Still owned by the  Le Mintier family, the Chateau is nestled in a beautiful site surrounded by woods and meadows. There is also a small museum which hosts a collection of furniture and objects.

The Motor Museum
Situated in Loheac, the museum offers more than 400 collector's cars spanning a century of car production with Ferraris, Alpines, Lamborghini and other prestigious cars, amphibious cars, rally cars and a F1 starting grid. 

Submarine and cruise ship
Both based in St Nazaire. The Espadon submarine sits in the water in a dock built by the German army as their submarine base during World War 2. Where ocean liners used to moor alongside the quay. Escal’Atlantic offers a unique experience to discover the world of liners, multimedia displays and artefacts from ocean liners.

Parliament of Brittany, Rennes
The remarkable Parliament of Brittany offers an experience of the heritage and history of Brittany. Guided tours are available in English during July and August.

Chateau de la Bretesche
This stunning medieval Chateau is situated in Missilac. The chateau was given historic monument status in 1926. Today the chateau is a privately owned hotel, however, you are able to play a round of golf in the grounds, or visit the spa and restaurant (1 Michelin star).

Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany
This beautiful chateau set in Nantes city centre dates back to the middle ages. The imposing chateau is surrounded by a moat and well kept gardens. The castle is also home to the Nantes History Museum featuring 32 rooms of the 15th century palace.

Chateau de Suscinio
The 14th century Chateau de Suscinio, a former hunting lodge for the Dukes of Brittany, is set in the most stunning position on the edge of the Morbihan coast. For some years it was the home of the exiled Henry Tudor. A spectacular castle not to be missed.

Chateaubriant Castle
Built between 1030 and 1042, this medieval castle has had various additions over the years dramatically changing it's appearance. Guided tours are available.

The Breton Resistance Museum
Built in the same spot as the battle in which the Resistance successfully diverted the German troops from the main Normandy invasion movements, the museum keeps alive the heroism and sacrifice of this Free France army. You will find interactive displays of the life and the engagement of the Bretons during the second world war.

Natural Parks and Gardens

more about parks & gardens...
St Just megalithic site
Dating from Neolithic times the megaliths were mainly used for burial and religious purposes. The most impressive monument is the "Rocher de Treal" a covered alley dating back to 2500 BC. The whole site is beautiful and offers plenty of opportunity to walk and enjoy the megaliths as well as the views, woods and a lake.

​La Gavre Forest
Covering 4500 hectares, this beautiful forest offers great walks through vast tree lined alleys. Formerly a royal forest dedicated to hunting and wood production today it's a plantation of pine and oak trees. The forest is rich with fauna including deer, woodpeckers, ringdoves and rare birds such as woodcock. In the village of Le Gavre there is a small museum to discover more about the history of the forest.

Le Jardin de Plantes - Nantes
These botanical gardens over 7 hectares in the centre of Nantes were laid out over 200 years ago. It offers elaborate and peaceful gardens with greenhouses, ponds, rare plant collections, beds of medicinal plants, covered walkways and an outstanding collection of camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias.

Briere Natural Park
France's second largest area of marshes, Briere Natural Park was once a centre for peat diggingand reed picking, it is now a Mecca for tourists who come to observe it'd birdlife and explore the canals and islands by boat. 

Broceliande - King Arthur's Forest
The Forest of Paimpont is all that remains of the vast forest that covered ancient inland Brittany. Legend has it that the woodland is also the location of the mythical forest of King Arthur.

Yves Rocher Botanical Gardens
Yves Rocher pioneered plant based cosmetics and toiletries. The botanical gardens situated in La Gacilly has more than 1000 species of plants on display each classified according to it's use.

Golf, Fishing and Birdwatching

more about golf, fishing and birdwatching...
Golf
The Western Loire has 26 courses (17 public) and Southern Brittany has 7. Some are links courses , down by the sea, others are inland in rolling countryside. 

Here are reviews of some of the closest courses as kindly given by one of our golfing guests - (thank you Brenda!):

Golf de Cicé-Blossac - Bruz
An American style course with excellent draining sand based tees and greens. High standard greens, a treat of a course. Tree lined fairways and not too many bunkers. Beware water poses a threat on 7 holes. A challenging and enjoyable course with time for a G & T after 9 holes in the lovely clubhouse."
Domaine de la Bretesche - Missilac
"Wow! A quite perfect location. Excellent greens, an immaculately kept golf course as you would expect. Difficult in places, accuracy needed, a course for the competent golfer. Twilight good value. A finishing drink in the clubhouse!
Golf de Caden - Caden
" A very warm welcome and English speaking in the Clubhouse. Initially the course appears a "Public Course" but don't be fooled. Interesting lakes with challenging approach shots. Excellent putting surfaces. An enjoyable round and good value at 39 Euros for 18 holes."

Fishing
South Brittany Cottages / gites are situated in a region named Les Trois Rivieres (The Land of the 3 Rivers), the rivers Isac, Don & Brivet. Also with just a 10 minute stroll from the gites you reach the banks of the meandering River Vilaine as it flows towards Redon. You can fish almost any where in the Loire-Atlantique or Southern Brittany, on slow rivers or sparkling streams, in deep lakes or on the Atlantic coast. In the fast flowing streams there is excellent Fly Fishing for trout or in the deeper slower rivers the quarry includes Tench, Carp, Roach & Rudd. In the unspoiled countryside anglers fish for tasty carnivores such as Pike, Perch and Zander. You will need a license to fish in the area, these can be bought locally or if you prefer you can buy them on-line from the French Fishing Association website which is written in English. The cost of a permit is around 32 Euros for a weekly holiday permit or a day permit for 10 Euros. You will need our postcode to select the correct fishing area which is 44290.  

Birdwatching
Within a stones throw of the gites at La Cour you will find the Rivers Vilaine and the Don where you can watch the many Herons and birds of prey. The Loire Atlantique is perfectly placed for the annual migratory flights. That means in spring and in Autumn a wide range of species are ready and waiting to be spotted and ticked off your list. Our best known area is the Regional National Park of Briere which has 42,000 acres of wetlands to be explored, it is an important winter haven for Ducks & Geese, Sandpipers & Wading birds.

Eating Out

more about eating out...

From local village cafe-bars and restaurants offering a "Menu du Jour" to 1 starred Michelin restaurants in the region.
There are restaurants to suit every taste and budget!​
Village lunch time menus
Village restaurants offer a good “Menu du jour” which will normally consist of 3 or 4 courses for as little as 13 Euros and sometimes even including your wine!  There are plenty in the area to choose from, two of our favourites are L’Etrier and Le Bistrot Gourmand. Both restaurants offer a buffet starter, choice of main course, cheese, dessert and wine for around 13 Euros!
 
Creperies and Restaurants 
A good selection of more cosmopolitan restaurants for eating out at lunchtime or in the evening can be found in the nearby towns of Guemene-Penfao and Redon including a pizzeria (often the most popular with children!), creperies, traditional restaurants and even an Asian restaurant serving Chinese food and Sushi!
​Here are a selection:
 
L’Akene Creperie
A lovely creperie situated in the old port quarter of Redon since 1980. Serving galettes and crepes and other dishes all made with regional Breton produce.
 
Restaurant Pizzeria Intermezzo
​A friendly restaurant in Guemene-Penfao serving traditional French and Italian food and pizzas (always a hit with children!) Terrace during the summer months.
 
Le Tour Duguesclin, Le Grand Fougeray
​​A pretty restaurant located in the grounds of the beautiful medieval tower, it also has a large outdoor terrace. 
 
Le Végétarium
​Part of the Maison Yves Rocher, in the heart of La Gacilly, the restaurant Le Végétarium offers authentic cuisine and a great relaxed atmosphere on its large wooden terrace on the edge of the water or in inside in the winter garden.
 
Patates et Compagnie 
A varied menu, most with the accompaniment of potatoes as the name suggests! A lovely ambience and situated on the quay in Redon centre.
​
Crêperie Du Moulin De Juzet - Guémené-Penfao
Set in the valley of the River Don with a beautiful terrace overlooking the river.
 
Creperie Bilig Breizh
A lovely, friendly creperie in the centre of Guemene-Penfao. 
 
Buffalo Grill and Poivre Rouge
There are also the modern chains of family restaurants Buffalo Grill serving steaks, hamburgers etc and Del Arte serving pizza and pasta. Both offer a variety of children's meals and both are located in the nearby town of Redon.
​Maria and Tony Conlan
La Cour, Paimbu, 44290 Masserac  France
Email: gitebrittany@gmail.com
Telephone 0033 240 513979
Siret No 483535316 00010

About us...
​
Originally from Plymouth, Devon in the UK, we had searched for many years throughout France for a rural idyll to call home and had never quite found the right one until we visited La Cour, South Brittany Cottages. Read more...