A Visit to Josselin, Bretagne, France

Brittany is a region full of warm people, delicious cuisine, and fascinating culture. Its beauty is unmatched, in my option, with its rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, lush forests, and charming villages. Today, I want to introduce you to a little gem of a town called Josselin.

Josselin, located in the Morbihan department of Brittany, and just an hour from Rennes, is designated as both a Petite cité de caractère’ and ville fleurie (floral town). While its fairy tale castle is a “must-see”, the town itself – founded in the 11th century – is as worthy of a visit as the château. Josselin hosts a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes and will delight both young and old alike.

The original château was built in the 11th century but was destroyed by King Henry II during a time in which England wanted Brittany for her own. Construction on the castle that we see today began in 1173 and, thanks to restorative efforts in the mid 1800’s, it is truly a sight to behold. It’s unique architecture and proximity to the river makes it one of my favorite castles in Brittany.

While one can’t visit the entire castle (as it continues to be inhabited by the Rohan family), guided tours of the ground floor are possible from April through October. Once a tour of the castle is complete, a stroll about the gardens is highly recommended.

After a walk about the castle and grounds, it is time to stroll through the captivating town. It’s easy to spend the good part of a morning just admiring the old stone and half-timbered homes, with their tiny doors and oddly placed windows, their carved wooden beams and slate roofs.

If it is lunch or dinnertime, enticing smells from a number of restaurants on any given street will tempt you into their establishments. It’s hard to choose, as there are creperies and specialty restaurants that will satisfy just about anyone’s taste and budget. And of course, there are boulangeries that offer sandwiches and quiches and other delights for those who opt for a picnic by the water.

Yes, I would tell anyone to come to Josselin and marvel at its magical castle, but be sure to spend a few hours in this charming medieval town …

I hope to revisit Josselin again soon, this time for a full day. There were so many shops to visit and too little time. In fact, I could see myself living quite happily just above this little Brocante (antique shop).

Or maybe on this little street …

There is an ecclectic mix of old and new here …

… and while I love the medieval architecture, I did find some glorious newer buildings …

Rising up from the middle of the town is the Basilique Notre Dame du Roncier. Built in the 15th century, its fascinating exterior begged for closer inspection.

Once inside, the stained glass and arched ceilings were simply magnificent.

I love visiting old churches. There is something about sitting in a pew where people have set for centuries, praying for love or the end of war or simply for tomorrow to be a better day. There’s a certain quiet in those moments that allows one’s mind to become fully present in the here and now.

The Basilisque hosts a variety of musical events throughout the year – barring the current one – and I’m certain that visitors and townspeople alike look forward to people gathering here once again.

Josselin hosts a weekly market every Saturday. Market day is the perfect opportunity to learn about locally grown produce …

… and to find some special souvenirs.

Intereseted to learn more about market day in Brittany? See my previous post here https://talesfrombrittany.com/market-day-in-brittany/

General information about Josselin

In French: https://www.broceliande-vacances.com/recherche/?query=josselin

In English: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/destination-broceliande/josselin/ adds the following as “Unmissable Places” in josselin.

• The old town
• The château of the Dukes of Rohan
• The Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Roncier
• The chapel of the former Sainte-Croix priory (11th and 13th centuries)
• The 1538 house with caryatids and beams carved with hunting scenes
• The locks, lock house, mill and weir

General information about the Château https://www.chateaudejosselin.com/en/homepage/

CHÂTEAU DE JOSSELIN Place de la congrégation 56120 JOSSELIN

02 97 22 36 45 contact@chateaudejosselin.com

Castle gardens https://www.chateaudejosselin.com/en/garden/

Getting there

Josselin is about a one-hour drive from Rennes. If coming by train from Paris, one can rent a car at the train station (see my post here https://talesfrombrittany.com/going-further-afield-driving-in-france/ for more information). One can also take the bus that runs between Rennes and Josselin about every four hours.

Restaurants

There are many wonderful restaurants in Josselin, but here are a few that have received top reviews:

La Table d’O . Cozy and casual with a varied menu. https://latabledo.eatbu.com/?lang=en

Creperie La Sarrazine http://www.creperie-sarrazine.com/

Nearby

If you fancy a visit to King Arthur’s forest or see some ancient megaliths, they are just a short drive from Josselin.

The forest of Broceliende (about a 45 minute drive) https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/destination-broceliande/the-forest-of-broceliande/

The Moorlands and Megaliths of Monteneuf (about a 30 minute drive from Josselin) https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/destination-broceliande/the-moorlands-and-megaliths-of-monteneuf/

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I hope that you enjoyed this little visit to Josselin. Please let me know in the comments what your ideal day trip is and if this sweet town would be on your Bucket List.

Stay safe and well,

Amy Gruber, from Tales from Brittany