Treasures of Brittany (Le Jacques Cartier)

Description

Along the French Atlantic coast, PONANT invites you to enjoy unique and unforgettable moments on an 8-day cruise aboard Le Jacques-Cartier.

You will set sail from Saint-Malo, a town famous for the legendary Route du Rhum yacht race. The city of privateers, the diversity of its heritage and its rampart walks will not fail to delight you.

The Ponant Isles, the common theme of this exceptional cruise, form a large archipelago off the French coast. Washed either by the English Channel or by the Atlantic, they owe their name to their Western geographical situation: Ponant meaning literally where the sun sets.

During the voyage, Le Jacques-Cartier will sail along the Hoëdic, Groix, Sein, Molène, Ouessant and Bréhat Islands… these many islands with wild and preserved coastlines.

Belle-Île-en-Mer, to the south of Brittany, will be one of the key ports of call. The Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived there for a while and painted the island’s most remarkable site: the jagged rocks known as Les Aiguilles de Port-Coton.

You will also call at Concarneau. Originating on the former fortified island and attached to the mainline by a bridge, the ‘ville close’ walled town is one of the most popular places in Brittany. But Concarneau is also a fishing port with enduring folklore and very beautiful beaches.

Trip Name

Treasures of Brittany (Le Jacques Cartier)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2018/2019 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the sixth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Jacques Cartier will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Jacques Cartier has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 SAINT-MALO

The mere mention of Saint-Malo’s name is enough to plunge us back into the richness of its past. The fortifications stand as testimony to the Malouins’ determination to defend their citadel, fought over by France and Britain in turn. When we drop anchor here, immerse yourself in the diversity of its heritage: the time when privateers sailed the oceans in search of trade and victories; the legendary yacht races the port city is still famous for, such as the Route du Rhum; and the final resting place of the French writer François-René de Chateaubriand, who was born here and chose to be buried here anonymously.

Day 2 - Day 2 BRÉHAT ISLAND

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Day 3 - Day 3 OUESSANT

Chart a course towards the sentinel island, the most westerly point of mainland France, recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1988. Some 7 km long, Ouessant boasts a wild and bitter beauty. Its landscapes carved by the sea and the wind, the vegetation of the moors and the heather, the rocks ceaselessly whipped by the Atlantic waves, are the home to thousands of sea birds. The island has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times, with women dedicating themselves to farming while the men were fishermen and sailors. From Lampaul, the “capital”, you can admire the powerful lighthouses that adorn the Ouessant coastline, including the Créac’h lighthouse, which stands out from the rest with its black and white stripes!

Day 4 - Day 4 GLÉNAN ISLANDS & CONCARNEAU

A little like the Seychelles…The Glénan archipelago and its string of islets offer you a magical spectacle with their white sand beaches and emerald green waters, evoking the exoticism of distant islands. Located around 10 nautical miles from the French mainland, the Glénans are a succession of seven islets, coiled around an interior sea with a paradisiac decor. To the east, Penfret shelters the lighthouse. Further on is the island of Loch, the largest one, recognisable by its chimney stack. Then come Cigogne with its fort, Drenec, Bananec, Guéotec, and finally Saint-Nicolas. The daffodil is the emblematic flower of the Glénan Islands; these pretty white flowers decorate the idyllic landscape of the archipelago in springtime … A waking dream.An emblematic town in Brittany, it is hard to resist the delights of Concarneau. The "blue town” will astonish and surprise you with its charm and history. Stroll along the streets of the Ville Close, with its remarkable walls and fortifications overlooking Concarneau Bay. Since the siege of the town by Duguesclin in the 16th Century, it has maintained its taste for adventure. The maritime history of the town and its canning industry is examined in the interesting fishing museum (Musée de la Pêche). Also, do not miss the visit to Keriolet Castle, a neo-gothic gem built in the 19th Century by a Russian imperial princess.

Day 5 - Day 5 GROIX ISLAND

“Qui voit Groix voit sa joie” (“Whoever sees Groix will see its glee”) — this proverb will make perfect sense as soon as your ship reaches Groix Island. Located around 4 nautical miles from Lorient, Groix stretches 8 kilometres long and is home to pretty low houses and colourful gardens. There is much contrast in the panorama: mainly wild and craggy landscapes to the west, and long beaches to the east, inviting conviviality and relaxation. At the beginning of the 20th century, Groix was the leading tuna port in France and the tuna-shaped weathercock, perched atop the church belfry, illustrates this activity.

Day 6 - Day 6 SAILING AROUND HOËDIC ISLAND & PORT-NAVALO

Port-Navalo is located at the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan, at the extreme tip of the Rhuys peninsula. The view over Locmariaquer, at the other side of the gulf as well as over the Quiberon peninsula are exceptional. A charming village of traditional Breton houses, Port-Navalo has always been a resolutely maritime town, a traditional fishing port and a well-protected refuge from the Suroit winds. Do not miss the chance to stroll along the coastal footpath in search of viewpoints over this inland sea that is the gulf, crossed every day by all types of vessels including the famous sinagots with their red sails.

Day 7 - Day 7 HOUAT & BELLE-ÎLE-EN-MER

Lying to the South of Brittany, Belle-Île is very aptly named. The largest of the Ponant islands, it owes its glowing reputation to its exceptional environment and generous natural attributes: pristine moors and dunes, headlands and cliffs cut into granite points, rocky inlets, and sheltered bays with sandy or pebble beaches. Aboard your ship, let the wild coastline of Belle-île-en-Mer surprise you, this little speck of land lying on the ocean, sparkling with colours in the morning light.

Day 8 - Day 8 NANTES

Disembarkation.

Day 9 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

A 100%-French cruise, discovering the most beautiful coastlines of Western France around Brittany.
Sailing around the Ponant Islands, the symbol of our company.
Discovery of the Gulf of Morbihan from Port-Navalo.
Belle-Île-en-Mer and its stunningly beautiful natural sites.
New ports of call: Bréhat Island, Nantes (port of disembarkation).