E15: Roscoff 1st Oct 2015

Roscoff marks the end of our Brittany adventure.  The 16th century harbour town is full of granite merchant housing and of course plenty of boats in its very photogenic harbour….

Roscoff is synonymous with the striped top beret wearing ‘Onion Johnies’ who use to load their boats with plaited strings of locally grown pink onions, cross the channel and don their bikes to pedal (literally) their wares in the UK.  Also famous in Roscoff is this 16th century Gothic style church which has a double gallery belfry with two levels of bells, considered to be the prototype for many subsequent churches in the region….

Inside, the roof is classic ‘inverted hull’ adorned with these interesting beams (note the mythical creatures head at each end) and ornate painting and carvings...

The figurines appear more akin to ships figureheads….

 

Lastly………… (apologies in advance)……………… ‘Le French Foon’! haha

E14: Plouescat to Roscoff 29/30th Sept

Plouescat is on the Granite coast of North Brittany and continues the theme of shallow sandy bays and estuaries strewn with rocky outcrops and islands many of which are only revealed at low water.  Our night stop was again wonderfully scenic and remote….

A view of the sandy spit that straddles the estuary mouth….

Wildlife is abundant….

These little birds took refuge on one of the exposed rocks….

Having circumnavigated the Brittany coastline it is clearly noticeable that there are close similarities with Cornwall (and the Outer Hebrides too).  This region is quite different to the rest of France (no vineyards) with similar crop and dairy farming to the UK.  Even the architecture is less definitavely French and sometimes we have sometimes had to remind ourselves that we were in France!

 

Remember in E8 we mentioned Kouign Amann?  Well here they are….

Another taste test was of course necessary!  They are similar in texture to Lardy cake but made with butter instead of lard and without the dried fruit.  Best eaten warm, you can feel the pounds piling on and your arteries clogging with each mouthful !