History brought back to life by today's generation .
Disadvantages:
None .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Walking down a leafy lane, slate walls on either side of you which are small enough not to obscure the views, you look towards an Archway that takes the visitor back in time to the Abbey of Bon Repos, which means "Good Rest".
The abbey was built in 1184, and has been demolished and rebuilt many times following wars since that time. Although the Abbey itself is not a good place for handicapped, having none of the easy walkways to take you into the abbey, what this Abbey offers is more than most historic buildings, in that history is being repeated in a wonderful setting that does offer a miriad of enjoyable events and possibilities to the able bodied and disabled alike.
Set in a beautiful setting alongside the River Blavet, the friends of Bon Repos have been gradually rebuilding the abbey and visitors can take part just by partaking in the events, or by the purchase of a slate to be laid on the roof of the abbey. The most popular of the paid events is the Son et Lumiere or sound and light show. All of the participants in the pageant that is so wonderfully performed after darkness falls, in the first weekends of August, are volunteers who want to help keep the history of the Abbey alive, and the show is spectacular. Seating is outdoors, and when darkness falls, the whole scene across the river and in front of the Abbey is lit up into a theatre almost on the scale of enormous panaramic theatres, and the history of the abbey is told to a display of costume, light, music and commentary.
The event happens for two weekends in August, and the spectacle is amazing, with horses, and peasants, lords and ladies, and all the historic characters that made the history of the abbey a somewhat checkered one, though one that is shared with the audience in such a way as to leave an amazing sense of having belonged to an event for the three to four hour duration.
Other events at the abbey include an exhibition of Vintage cars which is held annually, and a fair where you can watch wood and stone carvers busy with their crafts.
What I like about Bon Repos, which is on the border between Cote D'Amor and Morbihan between Gouarec and Mur de Bretagne, is that it is a site that can be enjoyed by anyone. The picnic areas next to the river offer both sun lit areas, and shady ones. Fishing is permitted with a licence easily available from tobacco shops in neighbouring towns, and the tranquility that this little enchanted piece of French soil offers is astounding by todays rush and hustle and bustle.
There is no entry fee, since there is little of the original abbey left, although what is there stands impressively against a Brittany Skyline.
Every Sunday morning during the summer time, there is an artisinal market at the abbey, where local craftsmen can sell their wares, and the abbey itself has a Brocante (antiques shop), a restaurant and hotel overlooking the water, and a shop that sells minerals and stones from all over the world. The hotel charges 35 euros a night for a double room which offers convenience for local attractions more than all mod cons. Bikes can be hired from the abbey as a modest rate and there is a tow path alongside the river that takes the visitor for miles.
In the area opposite the abbey, there is a green, again next to the river, and here there is alays room to picnic, and parking is easily and freely available.
If you are coming to Brittany for a holiday, this spot is one that has something to offer for everyone, not just those who like history. Travel by car, bike or motorcycle is necessary as public transport in this area is non existant, although to my mind, that is probably one of the reasons that the abbey retains its calm, and has so much to offer.
As you can see by the photo, the abbey has a long way to go before it is finished, and the architecture is amazing, even though the restauration is not finished.
I have watched the progress on the restoration of the Abbey over the last ten years, and each year, the Abbey offers more to the public, and one can actually stay in the Abbey Hotel next door and have amazing views over the river. The hotel is also very family friendly, though the restaurant is a little on the expensive side, although most visitors eat in local creperies, or take part in picnics across the river.
Would I recomment a visit here ?
Having just experienced the Son et Lumiere, or sound and light show in the last weekend, and having picnicked there this lunchtime, I would say that this is one spot that should not be neglected by the visitor to Brittany.
