La Petite Ecurie de Roz Avel  

Welcome to La Petite Ecurie de Roz Avel, in Brittany France, which means the little stable of Roz Avel. (Roz Avel is the name of our house.) We are delighted you have chosen to visit our site and we trust you like what you see.    

This beautifully renovated stone cottage with exposed beams was once the stable that housed the farms two horses many years ago, hence the name. We are in a small hamlet called Porz Jaffrennou, 12 kilometres from Huelgoat, with breathtaking views of the National Park D’Armorique. 

The cottage comprises of a spacious open plan lounge with corner settee that converts into a double bed, breakfast bar, TV DVD player, with a selection of DVD’s. sorry no tv reception, also there are a selection of books, board games and mini skittles. Electric heating. Large kitchen with microwave, toaster, small oven, electric and gas hob, dining table and chairs. Iron & ironing board, fridge with small freezer, hair dryer, use of washing machine and tumble dryer on request. 

Stairs leading to one double bedroom, one twin bedroom. Travel cot on request free of charge, also high chair and baby bath. Bathroom with multi function shower, wash basin and wc. 

Smoking is not allowed in the cottage, sorry. Double French doors off lounge leading to private terrace, with sun loungers, patio swing, table chairs and parasol. Garden games, badminton and boules, Use of the hot tub and above ground solar heated swimming pool in high summer.  

On arrival there will be a welcome pack consisting of tea, coffee, milk, sugar, bread, butter, preserves, 6 fresh eggs from our chickens, and a bottle of wine. We also provide bed linen, towels and tea towels. There are no extra charges,  

Tariffs 2009 open all year round 

January to May                      300 euro’s per week or 50 euro’s per night 

June and July             400 euro’s per week or 65 euro’s per night 

August                                    450 euro’s per week or 70 euro’s per night 

September to December     300 euro’s per week or 50 euro’s per night 

Other Information:  

* Payment to be made in full on arrival in Euros only.  

* We regret we do not accept credit/debit cards  

* Cottage to be vacated by 11am on day of departure
   or by arrangement.  

* Day of arrival, Check-in after 2pm please (or by
   prior arrangement)   

* We do ask for a 10% deposit to be paid when
   booking, you will receive confirmation in writing. 

* Sorry, animals not accepted. 

How to find us   [see also the Google Map Page]   

Our location is central Brittany 25 mins south from Morlaix.    

Driving distances from ferries   

* 45 mins from Roscoff    

* 2 hours from St Malo    

* 4 hours from Cherbourg    

* 3,5 hours from Caen    

Driving distances from Airports   

* 2 hours from Dinard    

* 45 minutes from Brest    

Cyclists/walkers note: collection from airport/ferry can be arranged for a fee.    

A detailed map of directions on how to find us, will be sent with your confirmation of booking.
For our exact location please refer to the Google Map menu option.   

Local Information

The peaceful setting of this beautiful cottage and it’s surrounding area is truly awesome, an experience that will never be forgotten. The perfect holiday to get away from it all. Four kilometres away, near Poullaouen you can hire a horse drawn gypsy style, pretty caravan and just amble away the hour’s while the horse takes you on the most wonderful journey through forests and fields along the old disused railway lines of Finistere, and perhaps take a picnic. 

There are also plenty of walks, and cycle paths for the energetic. 

Three kilometres away in Quenequen there is a lovely bar restaurant called the Madison Bar, Avril and Colin will give you a big English welcome. Every Friday night they serve fish and chips for those people who miss that traditional English dish, or you could choose something from their large and varied menu of good quality home cooking. They are open 7 days / nights per week, also they serve a lovely three course Sunday lunch, bookings only. 

20 mins drive away is picturesque Guerlesquin with its delightful traditional market every Monday morning, with Breton dancers in costume, who may well invite you to join in. There is also a very large lake with beaches and a circular walk around it. 

Huelgoat is 12 kilometres away, our closest small town, with creparies, bars, restaurants gift shops, supermarkets, banks, post office, a beautiful lake and a traditional French church in the village square where there is a traditional French market every Thursday. The walks in and around Huelgoat are world famous.  

In the very heart of theArmorique Regional Natural Park, the Huelgoat forest and its curious chaos of rocks, witnesses of the turbulent geological history of Central Brittany, continue to fascinate the visitors that set foot into this stunning forest. 

Huelgoat's main attraction has really got to be its beautiful and often overlooked magically enchanted forest. Literally just off the town center and covering an area of 10 square kilometres the forest of Huelgoat abounds with amazing gigantic mossy boulders and sparkling clear pools as the river Argent winds its way through the trees. To access the forest just walk from the town down to the lake and around to the right where the bridge lies,  

Follow the main path and your first stop should be Le Chaos de Rochers or the Chaos of Rocks and the Grotte Du Diable or Cave of the Devil. Here the water from the lake plunges dramatically ten meters below ground into a large cavern, the noise of the water is thundering and if your brave enough to climb down the slippery rocks and steep iron ladder its well worth a visit - but take care!

 

After the Grotte the river continues underground for a short distance before re-emerging and winding its way through the forest sometimes widening into fairy pools with stepping stones and small bridges. 

All around are the beautifully moulded water smoothed boulders and rocks laid out in seemingly impossible positions which make this place so special and who knows if you look hard enough you may even see the odd Fée or Korrigan (fairies) that are supposed to inhabit the forest.

 

Further into the forest is Le Camp d'Artus an ancient hill fort and supposedly one of King Arthur's many last resting places and the La Roche Tremblante a massive boulder weighing 137 tonnes which is precariously balanced in such a way that it can be be rocked by the weight of just one person - if you can find the exact place to push against it.

 

On your way back out of the forest stop for a while at the war memorial next to the natural spring which runs across the path.
The memorial honours the many local people who fought in the French resistance. 

We are in a fantastic position, having the best of both worlds. The breath taking views of the countryside, and 30 minutes away is a beautiful soft sandy beach, Saint efflam 5 minutes the other side of Plestin le Graves where there is another fantastic traditional French market on a Sunday. Carry on for another 15 minutes to another large market town Lannion. The market at Lannion is held on a Thursday, it runs   through the streets, very lively and massive.  

An introduction to Brittany 

Brittany is a broad peninsula in the west of France, bordered to the north by the English Channel and to the west by the Atlantic.
It is a land of rich legend, a land bound to the ocean in many ways. It enjoys various micro-climates and a patchwork of unique, picturesque landscapes.  

Further inland, Brocéliande Forest still resonates with tales of Merlin, the fairy Viviane, and King Arthur himself. A heritage blending legend with fact, lies in the very mortar of the 13-century-old Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, or in Carnac's mystical megalithic alignments.
Brittany is a region to be savoured, to be discovered and seen from every angle in every season.
Above all, Brittany is best expressed through its folklore and customs: the fest-noz (folk dances), galettes de blé noir (buckwheat pancakes), cider by the bowl, chouchen (a form of mead) and mouthwatering seafood platters... 

Location:
Brittany is situated in the north-west of France, an iconic "trident" of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. One of the most popular tourist destinations in France, Brittany is famous for its rugged, misty coastline, untamed beauty, sunshine and Celtic traditions. With 1,800 kilometres of coastline, Brittany has more beaches than any other region of France and is a Mecca for surfers, sailors, and water sport-lovers in general. Steeped in legend, local culture boasts numerous festivals and customs in the name of ancient Celtic deities and beliefs. 

Traditions:
"Celtitude" or Celtic pride is a salient aspect of Breton culture. The traditional Bagad cafés bring to mind old country taverns but with the added bonus of a fiddler playing in a corner, while a fest-noz ("night feast") is a riotous traditional outdoor ball that has even tourists doing the jig and similar dances. Maritime or nautical festivals and rituals are numerous, so you can experience parades, dances, benediction ceremonies for fishermen and troménies (religious processions in honour of the saints), during which locals sometimes wear traditional Breton garb.
The rich Breton mythology is a world of druids, korrigans or tiny trolls, faeries and pixies, and of course the Knights of the Round Table.  

Gastronomy:
To the average Breton, nothing fills you up like a good galette (buckwheat pancake) and a sweet crêpe for desert.
For fine dining a symphony of seafood flavours is always a delight, or one could try the kig-ha-farz, with meat, vegetables and far (local pastry). Rennes has some delux "coucou" poultry, while the naturally-salted lamb from the Mont-Saint-Michel salt meadows is a truly divine experience; both of these should be served with some of the delectable local beans and potatoes.
For desert, enjoy pastries such as far Breton and kouig amann, or some of the finest biscuits in the world: the Pont-Aven galettes and the fine dentelles crêpes from Quimper.
To wash it all down nothing can beat a nice bowl of Breton cidre and some chouchen, a honeyed brew similar to mead.  

Quimper, Brittany 

Kemper (to use the original Breton name) is the historic capital of Cornouaille. It stands at the confluence of the Steir, the Frout, and the Odet which runs through the town and is crossed by numerous bridges. Quimper itself is a busy residential area and an major tourist destination.

Be sure to explore the town, the Saint-Corentin cathedral - a fine example of Breton Gothic architecture - and the 16th and 17th century houses... The local Fine Arts Museum houses a splendid collection of ancient, regional and Breton works, and of course there are regional museums and traditional earthenware factories well worth visiting.  

The discovery of 6 000 year-old silex fragments proves that human settlement in the area dates back to that period. During the Roman era, Quimper was considered a part of the Osismii Gaulish territory. Mention is made of a bishop, Saint Corentin, in late 9th century documents; legend has it that the city owes its name, Quimper Corentin, to this character.  

Quimper faience 

Quimper has been a centre of the pottery industry for over 300 years, and the beautifully crafted ceramic pieces (known as faience) produced in the city are internationally recognized as being of the finest quality. There are many mass produced imitations, but every item of genuine Quimper faience is hand-painted and individually signed by the creator before firing, making it an extremely collectable item. Vases, plates, bowls, cups, jugs and a wide variety of ornaments are produced, each one decorated with a highly distinctive design. 

Predominant colours used in these designs are blue, green, yellow and orange, and while flowers and birds sometimes feature, it is the work displaying Breton figures in traditional dress that is most closely associated with Quimper faience. 

The oldest name in Quimper faience is HB Henriot, a company who still produce traditional styles and offer guided tours of their factory. For more contemporary designs, the Faiencerie d’Art Breton (founded in 1994) might be more to your taste. Prices vary considerably according to the piece, but there are also good quality seconds available in a shop near the factories. 

Breathtaking Brittany 

Map of Brittany 

With an amazing 750 miles of twisting, turning coastline, it's no wonder that so much of Brittany's rich heritage is linked to the sea. In parts, towering cliffs and rugged rock formations create the most dramatic scenery imaginable, whilst elsewhere there are glorious sandy beaches and classic resorts that are perfect for just about every conceivable water sport. 

And in between these two extremes you'll discover literally hundreds of charming little sheltered bays and inlets, many of which form harbours for Brittany's traditional fishing villages where little has changed for centuries. Like almost everything about France's most westerly region, its coast has a character that is absolutely unique. 

So Many Places to explore... 

Inland, Brittany's fabulously beautiful countryside is equally diverse, with green rolling hills, peaceful river valleys, prehistoric sites, and enchanting forests. 

Medieval towns and villages steeped in history and legend are everywhere, and numerous traditional festivals take place during the summer months, particularly in the west of the region where the Breton culture is strongest. 

Regional cuisine specialities include a variety of seafood and lamb dishes, artichokes and crêpes, all of which can be very pleasantly accompanied by the locally brewed sweet cider.