Pontrieux, France. 2014 🇫🇷

Travelled : 0 miles
Visited : Pontrieux, by train
Stay : Paimpol Railway Station car park, free no services

We had purchased our ticket for the tourist train to Pontrieux yesterday. It leaves at 11 am, nothing leaves early in France. But Pam gets us up early (9 am) for a walk, we walk the port and watch the lock being opened to let a fishing boat back into the Harbour. Interestingly the tidal change here is so great (over 6 metres) that most of the small ports have a lock to keep the depth of the water at a reasonable level.

We push and shove our way into the carriage and the train commences it’s journey. We travel quite slowly about 40-50 kph along the banks of the Trieux River making our way south west. On the river we can see lots of large cruisers, yachts and kayakers enjoying the river. Some grande houses and one beautiful chateau complete with turrets on the adjacent hill side.

The trains stops at a small station and we are invited off for refreshments. We walk down to a large stone villa, which has been converted into a tourist centre come gallery. We are greeted by the sound of music. A couple are playing traditional Bretagne pipes and horn, it’s really quiet an amazing sight and sound (I will try and download a little video).  We are all served crepes and cider, very Bretagne.

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We we climb back on board and arrive in Paimpol about 15 minutes later.  The station is about 10 minutes walk from the village, it’s a very pleasant walk along the banks of the river.  We walk the village and square.  Most shops are closed but the cafés and restuarants are all doing a roaring trade.

The river winds through the middle of the village, small parks are scattered here and there, full of flowers and little statues or garden art.  Eventually we lunch in a crepe restuarant on the river, the meal is good, the company even better.  The price is reasonable as well.

Michael and Pam