THE VILLAGE - Saint Nicolas des Eaux

We promise you that you will fall in love with Saint Nicolas des Eaux - one of the most delightful and picturesque villages in the whole of Brittany. Saint Nicolas des Eaux is the very heart of the stunning Blavet Valley where the local people have taken great pride in its appearance with a multitude of flowers adorning the river bank.

Just a very short stroll from your front door you will find several welcoming riverside bars, restaurants and creperies, bicycle hire (at La Maison Magique along the river), river boat excursions, canoeing/kayaking and pedaloes. The hotel has a delightful outdoor terrace overlooking the River Blavet and early evening is a favourite time to sit and sip your aperitif and watch the world go by.

At festival times in the summer there are dances, fetes and other open-air activities.

The River Blavet is wide, slow-moving and navigable, abounds with wildlife and is one of France's finest angling rivers, world renowned for its carp. Daily or period angling permits are available in the village.

This is a quiet spot for those seeking more placid activities such as birdwatching, sketching, walking, cycling, angling, canoeing, swimming, river excursions, eating and drinking. Sports such as tennis, ten-pin bowling, golf, go-karting, quad biking are close at hand.

AROUND & ABOUT

SHOPPING, EATING & DRINKING
Within easy driving distance in Plumeliau, a matter of 5 minutes drive, there is a supermarket, a selection of bars and restaurants, boulangerie, post office, vet for pet passports, pharmacy, doctor and dentist, indeed, all facilities for day to day needs or for emergencies. In nearby Pontivy and Baud (10-15 minutes drive) there are a number of hypermarkets and, of course, a very wide selection of places to eat and drink.

Pontivy is also well-known for its weekly market and low cost shopping opportunities for gifts, clothing etc.

Brittany is famous for its delicious Breton biscuits and these can be bought at the biscuit factory (taste before you buy!) for a matter of a few euros per kilo.

First time visitors to this part of Brittany will be very pleasantly surprised to find such a selection of very low cost eating places. It is not unusual to have a five course lunch including plentiful wine and cider for as little as 9 euros (£6).

SIGHTSEEING
Southern Brittany abounds with historic and prehistoric places of interest.

Nearby Carnac, which is noted for its fabulous beaches, is also world renowned for its megaliths and over three thousand standing stones (menhirs) and ancient dolmens. There is a one-hour tourist train tour of the region which is also a great introduction to the beaches of Carnac and La Trinite sur Mer.

There are many museums and chateaux in the area, all worthy of a visit as are some of the unspoilt mediaeval towns such as Auray (30 mins) and Josselin (20 mins) and the famous port cities of Vannes and Lorient. Within easy cycling distance there is the ancient Saint Gildas Chapel built into the riverside rocks which can also be viewed by taking a boat trip through the locks of the river.

In nearby Camors, with its forest adventure park, there is also one of the last surviving Sabotier (traditional Breton clogs) factory which is open to the public. In Baud there is a museum dedicated to the history of the post card - thousands of post cards are on display dating back to the beginnings of this tradition.

Pontivy, sometime Napoleonville, is steeped in history and the magnificent chateau in the centre of the town is also open to the public. Our central position brings just about everywhere in Brittany within easy driving reach, including numerous beaches and the inland gulf of Morbihan.

MARKETS
Each day of the week at least one of the local towns has an extensive market.

HORSE-RIDING
If horse-riding or pony trekking is your interest, there are a number of friendly, welcoming stables in the local area who cater for all levels of skill, from beginners to experienced. Riding through the Blavet Valley and surrounding woodland and forests is an absolute delight.

FISHING AND GOLF
We have devoted a whole section to these interests - click here.

WATER SPORTS
In nearby Baud there is also a large indoor swimming pool and watersports centre. Just to the north of the mediaeval town of Pontivy is Lac du Guerledan (Brittany's largest lake) where you will find water sports and lakeside beaches. Also there is a very large lake catering for watersports lovers in the nearby town of Ploermel. Five minutes' walk from the hotel is Brittany's premier canoe/kayak club where canoes and kayaks can be rented and lessons arranged

CAMORS ADVENTURE FOREST
Within the beautiful and extensive forest of Camors you will find the adventure park where both the young and not so young will enjoy the well planned forest tree-top walks and other forest adventures.

GO-KARTING
Approximately two miles away is a large outdoor go-kart track, and a similar distance for quad biking.

TENNIS
In Plumeliau, just over three miles away, there are free tennis courts.

SWIMMING
Baud has a large indoor heated swimming pool with water slides and Pontivy has a large outdoor heated swimming pool.

RAMBLING
The area around Saint Nicolas des Eaux offers many opportunities for unrestricted rambles through forest land, farm land, quiet country lanes and the towpath where you can enjoy tranquil river views, the many picturesque locks and the abundance of wild-life - a heaven for bird watchers.

CYCLING
Many of our guests have discovered the pleasure of safe cycling in the countryside around the village and particularly along the traffic free level towpath which is very relaxing for families with children. La Maison Magique along the road has over 40 bicycles available for hire including mountain bikes, tandems, children's bikes and buggies. For those dedicated to the sport of cycling there are many testing opportunities in the hilly country surrounding the village.

TEN-PIN BOWLING
In the nearby town of Locmine there is ten-pin bowling.

CANOEING
Close to the hotel is a well managed canoe/kayak club where canoes can be hired and lessons arranged, and there are pedaloes in the village for exploring the river between the locks.