The best running trails around Saint-Thuriau

Although I often stop in churches or chapels on my walks (if the door is not locked), I have never come across a place of worship that is dedicated to the patronage of Saint-NICODEME. The person of Nicodemus takes us far back to the Holy Land in Jesus' time; he is mentioned several times by at least one of the four evangelists. I did some more research this morning: In his version of the "Good News" (this is the meaning of the word "gospel"), John describes the encounter of a Nicodemus, a scribe and member of the Jewish High Council, who visits Jesus at night and has a discussion with him about faith (John 3:1-21). Later, at the meeting of the High Council, he speaks in Jesus' favor: "But Nicodemus, one of their own, who had previously visited Jesus, said to them, 'Does our law condemn a man before it has examined him and found out what he does?'" (John 7:50-51). After the crucifixion, it is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who bury the body with dignity (John 19:38-42).

The old castle is now partially open to the public. It looks very defensive.

This beautiful water town, famous for its Château des Rohans, is located in Argoat. That is to say in the very center of the Breton peninsula. It is a city which has preserved the Napoleonic memory of the great works carried out during the reign of the emperor. The Blavet is experiencing spectacular floods here which have left their mark on the inhabitants. The most recent ones date from January 1995 and February 2014.

Here, the Blavet meets the Nantes-Brest canal. It was Napoleon Bonaparte, then first consul, who decided on September 17, 1802 to channel the Blavet from Pontivy to Lorient. The project was titanic and lasted more than 30 years.

There are 28 locks which allow navigation between Pontivy and Hennebont. These structures, built in the 19th century, are still very important to the many pleasure boats that sail here. The lock keeper moves from one lock to another to allow boats to continue their journey in the Blavet valley.

The Château de Pontivy, or Château des Rohan, was built between the middle of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century for and by the Viscounts of Rohan. Following the codes of Breton military architecture from the end of the 15th century, this castle is one of the last fortified castles to have been built in Brittany. You will notice that the facade allows adaptation to the development of fire artillery, but that particular attention is paid to comfort and decoration. The downspouts are worked, the skylights carved, and the interior of the castle is equipped with fireplaces and latrines, making it a little gem of comfort for the time. Two permanent exhibitions are housed there: one is dedicated to the sculptor Gaston Schweitzer, while the other is a more contemporary installation by Japanese artist Koki Watanabe. I personally loved the contrast offered by this rather austere facade with the charm of the half-timbered houses in the city center, which I invite you to take the time to discover.

Magnificent chapel decorated with stone lace, in a green setting, surrounded by several fountains.

The medieval Rohan family, while maintaining their ancestral castle at the town of Rohan, governed the region from Pontivy, where this large castle remains.