The impressive Cathedral town of Quimper
and its surrounding countryside offer a wealth of sights and
excursions. A settlement has existed on this site since the first
century B.C. and a walk around the town gives a feeling of wandering
through time. The town is dominated by the fine Gothic Cathedral of
St. Corentin whose building was started in the 13th century. The
Cathedral offers such a wealth of architectural and religious
treasures that the visitor will benefit from one of the guided tours
organized by the tourist office before reviewing points of specific interest.
The old town of Quimper makes an
interesting walk and there are numerous museums and gardens to occupy
most interests. Quimper is well known for its ceramics industry which
started in the late 17th century and which has become one of the
towns most important industries today. There is a ceramic museum and
a ceramics factory both open to the public.
Quimper's position at the junction of the
rivers Steir and Odet makes it an ideal starting point for boat
excursions and walks along the river banks. these excursions offer a
wide range of attractions from simply viewing the surrounding forest
to visiting the docks or chapels on the outskirts of Quimper.
Pont-Aven
This picturesque little town some 16km west of
Quimperlé is known principally because of its artistic
community. Paul Gauguin stayed here many times and along with other
artists set up the Pont-Aven School. The Gloonec Inn where the
artists stayed is still in use and the town has a museum with
temporary and permanent exhibitions of paintings as well as
photographic and documentary history of Pont-Aven. The surrounding
countryside is full of charming villages and Chapels where the artist
drew inspiration for many of their paintings.