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Kermavio,
56480 Cleguerec, France |
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Weather |
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Weather So, rather like the UK, there is no guarantee of sunshine. Although there is a greater chance of it in the summer months than in the UK. If a summary will do, then we are a degree or two warmer than the UK with wetter winter months and drier summer ones. But if you would like more detail and are a bit of a weather anorak, then the graphs (lovingly prepared by one such) will be of interest to you (click on the respective graph to enlarge). If not, then skip down the page a bit!! |
Average Daily Temperature |
Average
Precipitation |
Average
Days Rainfall |
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Figures
supplied by Met Office
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and
Meteo France |
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Whatever
the weather, though, there is plenty to do and see. As one previous guest
said “I just don’t believe how much there is to do.”
Here are some examples. |
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1 The Son et Lumiere at Bon Repos in mid August is a late night spectacle not to be missed. 2
Other spectator sports include Auto-cross 4 If you are young (at heart) and not had too much of the red stuff that made France famous, then playing around in treetops will probably appeal to you. |
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6 Poul-Fétan has proven to be a favourite with many of our guests. And if you are there at lunchtime, the restaurant serves excellent food at a very reasonable price. 7 You won't go far in Brittany before you come across celebrations of its history and culture. Displays of Breton dancing in traditional costume can be found all over during the summer. This particular one was at Guingamp in August. 8 Join in with a Breton dance at a Fest Daiz (daytime dance with live music) 9 Or at a Fest Noz (an evening do). This particular photo comes from our own Cleguérec (Kleg) festival of music and dance in May. 10 Music is a central part of Breton culture. This photo was taken during the mediaeval fayres held every August at either Moncontour (even years) or Dinan (odd years). Most
of the "slide show" depicts outside activities. Which are greatly
influenced by the weather. So this would seem an ideal place to mention
..... Historically, the Celtic Brittany, or Bretagne, includes the Département of Loire Atlantique to the south as well as the Côte D’Armor, Finistère, Ille et Vilaine and Morbihan which are generally regarded as the Brittany of today. |
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Like all deeply rural communities, the major activity was, and still is, farming. Add Brittany's rugged coastline and the (then) plentiful Channel and Atlantic fishing waters. Mix in strong Celtic roots and you have the recipe for a tough, brave culture tempered with music and dance. Breton sailors were considered amongst the finest in the world - do you fancy putting to sea in a twenty foot sailing boat in a winters force ten from a rocky harbour - and Breton farmers today still produce something like 85% of France's food. |
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The
rich Breton culture is alive and well. Their ancient language has close
links with Welsh and Cornish. And, like Welsh, strenuous efforts are being
made to keep it alive, including adding the Breton name to place signs.
Well-intentioned mistakes of the past have been rectified and the Christening
of children with Breton names is now commonplace. Traditional music and
dance are very strong and hardly a week goes by without there being a
Fest Noz locally where both can be seen and heard. Impromptu jam sessions
in bars are not uncommon. And watching the dancers is like watching the
tide ebb and flow. |
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| The Bretons now have their own Flag ( the Gwenn-ha-Du), their own traditional style of furniture and a hugely varied traditional costume. Each village, almost, has its own variations and there are gradations within those. |
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Lace-making,
unfortunately is no longer economically viable - imagine the cost of the
piece shown here which took our friend Gabriel Onno 8,000 hours to make
- but the faïence pottery is still made at Quimper. Look out for locally produced cider, fruit, vegetables and goats cheese sold at farm gates and Breton produce on sale in the shops (look for the lighthouse symbol). The short, sturdy Breton horses, like the one shown here at the annual Cléguérec Breton horse show, are both powerful and gentle. Their power altered and influenced the face of Brittany. Alongside the weather. |
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And
if you would like to see what the weather in Brittany (Loudeac) is doing
now, just click on this link:- |