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 9th February 2010
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Petite Cité de CaractèreSmall Towns of Character in Brittany
The “Association des Petites Cités de Caractère”, founded in 1975, brings together around twenty small, rural settlements all displaying most of the characteristics of a historic town and consequently featuring a first-class urban heritage which reflects their history and once prestigious role. The "Petite Cité de Caractère" title is awarded to settlements of fewer than 5000 inhabitants which possess in particular: *A consistent, urban architectural heritage including a minimum of one listed or classified monument and a collection of interesting and homogeneous old building; *A genuine potential for providing tourist facilities including a minimum of one information point, one or more restaurants or country inns serving local or regional speciality disches and at least one good quality place to stay; *An effective heritage promotion policy; *A programme of events. Any Town bestowed such status by Association undertakes to maintain, promote and manage its heritage by signing up to a precisely defined quality assurance charter. Depending on its fulfilment of the charter's requirements, a town is given "full" or "applied for" status. Explore the Petite Cité de Caractère  Bécherel - Overlooking the upper valley of the river Rance, this historic fortified town, which once played a military role, retains traces of the different periods which shaped its turbulent past and gave it its remarkable adaptability. Linen and hemp were the source of Bécherel’s wealth between the 16th and 18th centuries. Today, this ancient urban settlement with its well-preserved architectural heritage has become France’s foremost Book Town. Châtelaudren - Situated at the crossing of crucial transport routes in Brittany, Châtelaudren has always enjoyed the privileges of a town on a strategic site on the banks of the river Leff. Originally a stronghold, intensive mercantile and artisan activity in the town meant it became the historic capital of Goëlo. In the 20th century, due to the establishment of the “Petit Echo de la Mode” and its production of dressmaking patterns, Châtelaudren became second capital of French fashion. Châteaugiron - The chateau, close to the Breton capital which it once defended, was built in the Middle Ages and is a genuine fortress right in the heart of Châteaugiron. Nestling against the tall towers of its chateau, the town, founded during the same period, contains numerous houses with painted half-timbering. Today, a vibrant culture brings this rich, historic heritage to life. Combourg - An ideal holiday base for touring Romantic Brittany, Combourg, with its “tranquil lake” is a charming place for a break. The chateau is a key to the town’s identity. The impressive and mysterious granite fortress blends in with the charm of the narrow streets and the warmth of the half-timbered houses. Guerlesquin - The architectural fabric of the town, the monuments and old, distinctive houses built from granite, are to be found lining a long marketplace which for centuries has been the focus for commerce. The town has successfully exploited its historic role as a centre for fairs and markets, as its rich architectural heritage can testify. Josselin - A key staging post on the “Route des Ducs de Bretagne”, Josselin comes into view perched on a hillside at a curve in the road. At its feet stands an imposing chateau and impregnable fortress set into the rock. This is the seat of the Rohan family whose fate has been closely linked to the life of the town. Jugon-les-Lacs - Enclosed by a valley and with a 4-km long beautiful lake as backdrop, Jugon is like an oasis in the midst of an ocean of green. Its architectural heritage featuring granite houses and a central marketplace is a reminder of the proud place Jugon held as Penthièvre stronghold during the time of the Dukes of Brittany. La Roche-Bernard - Perched on its rocky promontory overlooking the river Vilaine, La Roche-Bernard has treasures to reveal to those who take the time. Careful listening reveals the river, lifeblood of the town, as it surges with the tide and close observation makes it possible to imagine its heyday of barons and sailing ships. Private mansions, old depots and salt warehouses wait to be discovered by chance down narrow streets, presenting their own testimony to its rich past. Le Faou - A gateway to land and sea, the port of Le Faou on Brest bay is a former staging post between lower Léon and upper Cornouaille. Due to its exceptional location, the town possesses a long history and rich heritage. Léhon - Situated in the picturesque valley of the river Rance, Léhon has retained a historic and religious heritage which reminds us of its importance in medieval times. The Benedictine abbey founded in the 9th century by Nominoë, King of Brittany, the 12th-century chateau built on the promontory overlooking the bridge and the houses of the town continue to attract visitors who have flocked here since the 19th century. Lizio - Situated in the heart of a granite region dominated by the stately town of Josselin and set apart from the main arterial routes, Lizio was considered by many towards the end of the 1970s as nothing more than a pretty little Breton village destined for obscurity. But that was reckoning without the fierce determination of the local people who decided to boost economic activity through a policy of systematic restoration of its architectural heritage. Locronan - The blue-grey granite houses of Locronan, a small town nestling against a hillside, rise up around the solid and distinctive edifice of its square church tower. Originally founded on a sacred site and capital of Brittany’s sailcloth industry from the end of the 15th to the middle of the 18th century, this major Breton tourist centre, much loved by filmmakers, has not forgotten its historic dual role. Malestroit - A small island protected by a feudal motte and subsequently by a fortified chateau, Malestroit in the 15th century became one of the nine baronies of Brittany, encircled by fortifications traces of which can still be seen today. In the 16th century, the construction of two twin locks, among the earliest in France, linked Malestroit to Redon. Commerce boomed and the “Town of the Golden Bezants” rapidly expanded. Moncontour - Perching proudly on a rocky escarpment at the confluence of two small rivers, Moncontour-de-Bretagne is still encircled by imposing 13th- and 15th-century ramparts. A period atmosphere makes life here seem gentle and pleasant. Peace reigns in the present-day town enhanced by surrounding woodland and dazzling floral displays, all in striking contrast to the town’s turbulent past. The impressive Penthièvre fortress withstood countless attacks during the Middle Ages and even minted its own coins in the 14th century. Pont-Croix - A bridge over the river Goyen flanked by a tidal mill and reached by steep, narrow streets heading up towards a summit crowned with remarkable religious monuments and a market place complete the picture presented today by Pont-Croix, originally a feudal motte and now capital of Le Cap Sizun headland. Pontrieux - Like many Breton towns, Pontrieux is medieval in origin, owing its existence and its prosperity to its position at the head of an estuary, site of the first bridge over the river Trieux. For a long time the Trieux estuary at this point afforded the only link between the areas of Trégor and Goëlo. Today it offers a navigation route perfect for pleasure craft but once much exploited to great effect by the Vikings. Quintin - Situated between Armor and Argoat, Quintin, ancient fortified town and centre of the Marian cult, boasts thirteen classified historic monuments and an architecturally rich urban heritage which is principally the legacy of two centuries of prosperity arising from the manufacture of Brittany hemp textiles. Established in the heart of the lovely “Le Gouët" river valley, this town in bloom openly invites visitors to explore. Rochefort-en-Terre - A town on a fortified site surrounded by deep valleys, Rochefort-en-Terre is a collection of several hundred houses set on an outcrop of schist. Famous for its 16th- and 17th-century residences and for its displays of geraniums, a unifying motif throughout the town, this small settlement is equally renowned for its chateau and collegiate church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Tronchaye. Roscoff - On a peninsula in Morlaix bay lies a town of granite and floral displays with a privateer past and a historic, 16th-century heart. Its stonework still exudes the past wealth of rich merchants, of the famous “Onion Johnnies” and of numerous poets, painters and writers on whom Roscoff cast its spell. Tréguier - The historic capital of Trégor enjoys a particular prestige among the people of Brittany. As a centre of intellectual prowess, noble sentiment, careful reflection and critical appreciation down through the centuries it has inspired men of letters, law and the cloth, from Saint Tugdual to Saint Yves, Ernest Renan to Anatole Le Braz and Angéla Duval to Henri Pollès and Yvon Le Men. Association des Petites Cités de Caractère de Bretagne 1 rue Raoul Ponchon 35069 RENNES CEDEX - FRANCE Tél : 02 99 84 00 80 Fax : 02 99 28 44 40 E-mail : citesdart@tourismebretagne.com Tourism, Holidays & Leisure Home Page Looking for a property in France? Use FrenchEntrée's Property Finders to help you find your property and to help you through the buying process 
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