Pont-Aven

Pont-Aven, for its port, art galleries and museum

Just 40 km from Lorient, discover Pont-Aven, its pretty port on the banks of the river Aven, and its famous art galleries. The Paul Gauguin Museum is worth the detour!

Pont-Aven is only about a thirty-minute drive from Lorient. Pont-Aven is also near Concarneau. It’s worth the trip, if only to stroll through the streets of this pretty village in South Finistère. On the banks of the Aven, its port, filled with small pleasure boats, is really charming.

The Paul Gauguin school and its painters

The identity of the village has been shaped by the presence of painters from the 19th century, and namely Paul Gauguin, founder of the group of the Pont-Aven School (Maufra, Bernard, Sérusier…). The Paul Gauguin Museum tells the story of this creative period and the Impressionists in particular. Today, contemporary painters continue to come to Pont-Aven. There are many art galleries to visit in the centre.

Xavier Grall Promenade, galettes and oysters, Aven Parc...

The Xavier Grall promenade which runs from one bank to the other across footbridges, past washhouses, millstreams and mill gates, is full of poetry. The banks are covered in flowers, enhancing the tone of the beautiful stone houses. 14 mills are still in operation.

People also come to Pont-Aven to make a gourmet stopover (galettes de Pont-Aven, flat oysters from Bélon).

For children, the Aven Parc and its 40000 m2 maze (and other attractions) is a pleasant destination to combines play with nature.

From Pont-Aven, head to Névez to see the Château du Hénant, the site of the Moulin du Poulguin, the beach of Port-Manech, the standing stone thatched cottages…