Port 70 Brest, France

by Ed · May 17, 2022

Bonjour!

We successfully crossed the Bay of Biscay and arrived in the safe harbor at Brest on May 12th, 2022!

Our help arrived! I love and am curious about the numbers written on the front. What are they for?

We swing around and see our new view is a dry dock and a bunch of piles of … of … of “stuff” on the dock.

Our excursion today is to the medieval village of Locronan.

While we waited to board the bus I chatted with Damien LaCroix, the Oceania Insignia General Manager. He lives near Paris but told me this is his first time to Brest! “It is a destination – it is too far west!”

We have almost an hour on the road to this place south of Brest. This is the River Aulne running through the countryside.

The countryside is beautiful and lush! We still have hazy fog in the distance.

When we get close to the city of Chateaulin the water of the Aulne is wonderfully calm and provides excellent reflections!

Here is a bridge in Chateaulin. We will cross the river, but a little farther upstream! The water is not as calm here.

There is small spillover dam on the other side of the stone arch bridge. This is a lovely view! And this is why the water was not calm on the other side of the bridge.

Then the water returns to glass, and the villas are reflecting beautifully!

We arrive in Locronan, and the street is dominated by this amazing structure! This is the Church of St Ronan, and adjoining it on the right of this photo is the Penity Chapel.

These two churches began as separate buildings, with the Penity Chapel being built after the primary church. But the two have been joined into one church. The Church of St Ronan side is more of a Norman architecture with the rounded arches, while the Penity Chapel has more of a gothic styling, being built about one century later when pointed arches became standard architectural elements.

We approach the door to the Church of St Ronan. The entrance has the ribbed roof elements of a transitional architecture to gothic styling! It is a beautiful entrance framing two doors to the interior.

Inside is surprising with the ribbed vaults down the length of the nave! The interior space is relatively small, focused inside the main columns and not trying to push pews outside of the columns. Statues adorn every column, and the pulpit stand out in green! The stained glass behind the altar is almost tame compared to the content before it.

The pulpit is one of the few still in existence in France, according to Ann, our tour guide. Most churches removed them, favoring a podium at the front of the church.

Here are a few of the statues on the columns. In this one she has her foot on a dragon as if it is being controlled.

In this a church steeple, or a whole church?, is being presented as a vision.

Here St Herbot presents a vision of a city, accompanied by a cow. I need to mention that due to the Celtic influences in western France there are a lot of saints here that most people will not recognize!

This carving of a pieta, or a version of “descent from the cross” is lovely, and much of the original paint is still visible!

Here is Ann explaining to Joy the symbolism in the Crypt of St Ronan. This is what now occupies the nave of the Penity Chapel side of the building. The effigy of St Ronan is making a blessing with his right hand while his left hand is holding a cross staff that is pushed into the mouth of a lion at St Ronan’s feet. Six angel caryatids hold the effigy up from the floor on their wings. St Ronan has one eye still open in this carving! Penitents would crawl between the caryatids holding the stone effigy to ask for St Ronan’s blessings of fertility to have children.

Back outside, the central well still graces the square.

I am amused by this sign – a wolf in sheeps clothing!

A chocolate shop at the end of the square has this beautiful castle with a sleeping dragon in its base! We ended up buying cookies and meringues, and gave some of the meringues to Damien LaCroix, the ship’s General Manager!

We take a walk down a lane to find the Church of Notre Dame and its fountain. We pass by this very short door and the sign has me laughing! “Trust me – the door is very, very low”! The man has a nasty bump on the top of his head!

The gardens are very well attended to, and this one is lovely! The purple caught my eye, highlighting the gate and door the purple blooms frame. The red touches make this scene pop! There is a little well on the right and a free flowing fountain on the left.

We arrive at the Chapel of Notre Dame du Bonne Nouvelle!

The interior is relatively simple, with two rooms separated by an arch making up the church.

Another version of the pieta, or “Descent from the Cross” resides here, remarkably similar to that in the Penity Chapel, suggesting one was a copy of the other. This one, however, has no sign of coloring at all, and the crown of thorns held by Nicodemus on our right is missing, likely broken off.

The stained glass is colorful, but with no attempt at scenery. I can’t find any information on whether the glass is original, or replicates the original.

There is a fountain behind the church. It is said locally that the water in the fountain has healing powers. Rub a little on yourself the next time you’re in Locronan!

Back in town we find the local theater! They appear to have a good series of plays they perform!

One of the “must see” places recommended here is the Tourism Office! That’s the left part of this photo, with the door between the two vertical blue signs. It has a museum, but it is temporarily closed for refurbishment.

Someone has amassed a nice collection of anchors and grappling hooks!

We board the bus back to the ship. This beautiful church popped up on the drive back to Brest!

Once we are back at the ship we rode the shuttle to in to town to get a flavor for Brest! We learned this pink granite tower is a memorial to the US for sending troops to Brest to help liberate them from German occupation.

This is a covered walk – it’s not an hitorical site, but I love the repeating structure receding into the distance with the clock tower anchoring the end!

This Monument aux Morts (Monument to the Dead) tower is at the Place de la Liberte!

Can anyone explain what this sign is really trying to tell us? No kids? No men walking little girls?

Behind the castle is an interesting bridge! It appears to raise to allow tall ship traffic to pass, while a smaller bridge below swings open.

The castle provides an imposing presence on the waterfront! It is not as imposing from the land. I like the waterside view better!

Behind the bridge is this interesting art work. It is called L’Arbre Empathetique, and is a hybrid of technology and nature.

It’s finally time for us to take our leave of this lovely corner of France!

I was amused to watch this little boat collect and tow away the large dock bumpers we used. Apparently they were loaned for our use and had to be returned!