Walking 3h Circuit 2
Departure of the Gold Mine in the municipality of Pénestin in southern Morbihan
Tour 2: From the Marsh to the Ocean
Duration of the trip: 3 hours
Number of Kilometers: 12 kms
This circuit weaves its course around a thread: water. This theme determines the population's choice of facilities. Indeed, whether sweet or salty, it has always been omnipresent in the life of the Pénestinois.
By taking the dirt road, facing the tourist office, you arrive at the small village of Couarne. This name originally indicates a site at the end of a pond. Indeed, Couarne is located in a "marshy area of the town".
This hamlet consists of large buildings that are in fact old farms, which explains the presence of two wells recently renovated. The first one, against a slope and visible on your right while crossing the crossroads, is a source. The second is more traditional.
After a walk in the hollow road, you cross Brécéan, typical village of our town, which is located in the heart of what is called here "the common swamp" and also has a pretty original well with a column.
After crossing the hamlet of Pradun, whose name comes from "priden" meaning meadow, former Breton meadow, you enter a sector where fields consist of large open plots.
Landscape change. You reach the coast by the dunes of Maresclé ("swamp sheltered from the wind" in Breton) This site was always occupied by the man, since researchers found there remains of buckets ovens, intended to obtain salt from seawater.
Closer to home, during the Second World War, the entire peninsula coast was integrated into the Atlantic Wall. The traces of the German presence still strongly mark the landscape, especially at Maresclé.
Facing the shoreline, the mussel pinks have perfect lines and you discover Bel Air Island, ornithological reserve.
Going to Poudrantais by the coastal path, you walk in the alley Jean-Emile Laboureur named after the famous engraver whose villa of austere aspect (the first on the left) is located on the point. The other facade of this house is instead entirely open to the ocean.
It is along this shady path that were established in the early twentieth century the first villas, built by notables, mainly Nantes. Thus, the family of the composer Paul Ladmirault, that of the runner Lucien Mazan Petit Breton among others, settled in this place.
Behind the Club Nautique building, you can see a beautiful fountain of a very common form throughout Brittany.
Already appear the famous ocher clay cliffs of La Mine d'Or, unique geological structure in Europe, which in the nineteenth century sparked attempts to exploit the precious metal. Pénestin therefore knew his "gold rush"!
After this last stage, the circuit takes you back to your starting point by taking the street of the beach.
