Ile aux Moines

We had been invited to visit with Loni and Bob at their charming home in Ile aux Moines, situated in the Golfe du Moribihan between chez Greenside and our destination in the Vendee. The nearest city is Vannes, so we stopped for a picnic lunch on a bench along the river, and a quick tour of the old city.

Vannes is known for its old walled city, and for the timbered houses that remain. Here is the lavoir outside the walls on the river, where washing was done in cubicles, with drains under the covered eaves to take the dirty water away.


The other side of this porte to the city was a formal garden; presumably in the day it carried the dirty washwater to the canal and to the harbor.

Timbered houses were made illegal since they are particularly susceptible to fire, but many examples in the old town remain.



The guidebooks say that if you get the feeling that the timbered houses are leaning, don't panic -- they are. This one caught our eye.


As in many old cities, it is hard to see the church since it is surrounded by other buildings.



Ile aux Moines (island of the monks) is a 5 minute ferry ride from the "continent" as it is referred to. In case you were wondering as I was, the GPS voice gave clear driving instructions, closing with "Turn to the right and take the ferry." So we did.

Loni and Bob and dog Zola were waiting at the dock, and took us by cab to their charming waterfront home. We settled in, and took a walk through their portion of the island. One stop was one of the churches, featuring a ship hanging from the ceiling, which Bob told us we would find in every church in Brittany. Tom and Bob bought oysters along the way, and we returned home for oysters and a delicious meal prepared by our hostess. Friend Sandy joined us for dinner and conversation, and we made plans to meet the next morning for coffee in the village.

The long walk from the street to the house...
our first glimpse of the house...

the charming garden on one side....

and the dramatic sun porch on the other.

A charming dining room,

sejour,


and kitchen.

The oyster beds at low tide.

Tom and Bob preparing the oysters.


The next morning we had a lovely breakfast of melon, berries and an excellent kouign amann, followed by a walk to the tiny village for coffee. After a relaxing chat, it was time to walk back to the house (stopping at the chapel on the way), pack and wait for the taxi to take us to the ferry and the mainland, and the car, for our return to the Vendee.


The village


We saw the postman making his rounds.

Coffee in the village



The chapel, complete with suspended ship.

Loni and Bob were delightful hosts, and made us very welcome. They have a delightful home in an expected part of Brittany, and we enjoyed meeting them.