Brittany
Nevez, from Anse de Poulguin to Port Manech
Peninsula of Nevez
Nevez is a picturesque country district located on the little peninsula that stretches along the mouth of the Aven.
The small river carved a series of rias in the banks of its estuary, thus creating remote coves and ponds that contribute to the beauty and wildness of the area.
In the 13th century Nevez was the fiefdom of the Knight Hervé.
His descendants enjoyed prominent duties as governor of Quimper or officer in the royal fleet in the 17th century.
Of this ancient cultural heritage, Nevez has retained several exceptional sites that today attract thousands of tourists.
Kerascoët, a village of thatched country cottages
Kerascoët is one of them.
This once modest fishing village, located 5kms from Pont-Aven, consisted of a few thatched cottages erected in the 16th century along a single lane.
These picturesque cottages or penty were restored to their original appearance in the early 1990s and earned Kerascoët the name of Village des Chaumières.
However, they are not ordinary country cottages, as they have two peculiarities.
First, they were built with tall granite slabs of granite, or pierres hautes - mein zaoin in Breton.
Indeed, from the 17th to the 20th century, local stonemasons recovered these slabs at low tide from the coastal cove of Kerrochet.
They then set them upright in order to build cottage walls, but also fences, bread ovens and wells.
The second peculiarity of Kerascoët cottages is that they are still and exclusively thatched (with thatch or reed.)
The nearby village of Kercanic, which is connected to Kerascoët by a marked path, is another picturesque Village de Chaumières.
These two villages and they traditional fishermen cottages are fully protected.
They were indeed granted the label Paysage reconquis - Landscape of reconquest by the Ministry of Environment in 1993.
Chateau du Poulguin
The Manoir du Poulguin and its private chapel and dovecote were built in the early 16th century, well inside the mouth of the Aven, where the river cuts in the shore at Anse de Poulguin.
Chateau du Hénan and its tide mill
Nevez’ second castle, the 14th century Chateau du Hénan is located downstream from Poulguin, and commanded the traffic on the estuary.
The old fortress indeed stands where the Aven cut a narrow passage through the land and created a small pond connected to the sea.
The Moulin à Marée du Hénan was built in the 15th century against the bridge that spans this narrow passage.
This tide mill, now listed Historic Monument, works thanks to the ebb and flow of the Aven during tides.
Port Manech
Port Manech is located at the mouth of the Aven, where its lighthouse watches over the entrance to the estuary and guides fishermen and sailing boats.
The little seaport, a former trendy seaside resort of the Belle Epoque, attracted a wealthy foreign and French clientele that made its fame.
From this era, it has retained a few architectural beauties such the luxurious Hotel Julia; built in 1920, it was the rendezvous of the leading actors of the time.
Finally, the former smugglers' path, Chemin des Douaniers, will take you to the discovery the peninsula of Nevez at your leisure.
Department of Finistère
Coordinates: Lat 47.819167 - Long -3.792580
Credits: All pictures are ©Dominique Scaviner
Nevez, from Anse de Poulguin to Port Manech
Pont-Aven, Gauguin and La Cité des Artistes
Pointe du Grouin, a rocky spur south of the Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
Colonne du Guesclin – La Motte-Broons
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