|
Pontivy
|
|
|
You can again take
barges
all the way to the Loire from
PONTIVY
, the central junction of the Nantes-Brest canal, where the course of the canal breaks off once more from the Blavet. When the waterway opened, the small medieval centre of the town was expanded, redesigned and given broad avenues to fit its new role. It was even briefly renamed Napoleonville, in honour of the man responsible for its new prosperity.
These days, Pontivy is a bright market town, its twisting old streets contrasting with the stately riverside promenades. At its northern end, occupying a commanding hillside site, is the Chateau de Rohan , built by the lord of Josselin in the fifteenth century (June-Sept daily 10.30am-7pm; rest of year Wed-Sun 10am-noon & 2-6pm; 20F/€3.05). Used in summer for low-key cultural events and temporary exhibitions, the castle still belongs to the Josselin family, who are slowly restoring it. At the moment, one impressive facade, complete with deep moat and two forbidding towers, looks out over the river - behind that, the structure rather peters out.
Pontivy's helpful
tourist office
is just below the castle, on place de Gaulle (June-Sept daily 10am-6pm; rest of year Mon-Sat 10am-noon & 2-6pm; tel 02.97.25.04.10). Among local
hotels
are the low-priced
Robic
, 2 rue Jean-Jaures (tel 02.97.25.11.80; 160-220F/€24-34; closed Sun evening in winter), which has a good restaurant with menus from 60F/€9.15, and the smarter
Porhoet
, near the tourist office at 41 rue du General-de-Gaulle (tel 02.97.25.34.88; 220-300F/€34-46). In addition, the local
hostel
, 2km from the
gare SNCF
on the Ile des Recollets (tel 02.97.25.58.27), is in good condition and serves cheap meals. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
|
France,
|