Rochefort-en-Terre
Morbihan, Brittany
Rochefort-en-Terre’s tall granite and shale facades appeal to hikers and cyclists alike! Between the Gulf of Morbihan and Merlin’s Forest, this former Breton manor has retained its bustling trading vocation, alongside a flower display tradition inspired by the American painter Alfred Klots, in the 20th century.
© Rudy Burbant
A gem of the Morbihan department, Rochefort-en-Terre is one of the oldest manors in Brittany, whose legacy and lifestyle make it a town that is at once vibrant and peaceful. The Naïa Museum, devoted to science fiction and Fantastic Art, intrigues all those who visit this village, anchored as it is in the traditions of Brittany, whilst also being steeped in modern times. With varied architecture, it boasts remarkable homogeneity: its timber-framed houses, Gothic-style buildings, and 19th-century architecture take the brown tinges of local stone. With its pedestrian streets and quirky houses, this town, listed amongst the Loveliest Villages in France, is an invitation to discover the history of each place. Much like that of its main castle, which has been renovated with stones from a neighbouring Renaissance castle by Alfred Clotz, the American painter who initiated the village’s renewal. In 1911, he launched a window box competition, gifting each inhabitant with geranium cuttings as decoration. Flowers have brightened the stone walls ever since. The tradition, which is still alive in Rochefort-en-Terre has earned its selection as “France’s Best Flower Village.”