Vannes
Medieval city in south Brittany
Visit the historic centre
In the walled city, many buildings testify to the rich past of the city of the Veneti located in the heart of the Gulf of Morbihan: the bastion of Gréguennic, the place of the Lices, the Castle-Gaillard, the Cohue, the Cathedral Saint Pierre, the ramparts and their gardens, the Constable's Tower ...
Bastions, towers and gates such as the Prison Gate are the remains of the old walled city.
At the turn of the cobbled streets of the intramural, you will also discover "Vannes and his wife" famous portrait carved on an old house that becomes iconic image of the city. Close by, the Château-Gaillard, museum of prehistory which houses very beautiful archaeological collections.
Leaving the old town, south side, by Porte Saint Vincent, you will arrive at the marina of Vannes, a very pleasant place with its esplanade, its restaurants and its cafés' terraces.
The Tourist Office offers guided tours of the historic heart of the city and a discovery tour aboard a small tourist train.
Informations :
Summer Festivals and events in Vannes
City of art and history, Vannes hosts many cultural events that animate the entire city center and the port:
Every two years, during the Ascension week, more than a thousand boats, coming from all around Europe, meet on the water of the Gulf of Morbihan, one of the most beautiful bay in the world. La Semaine du Golfe is a big sea festival where you can see old and tradinal boats, three mats and large vessel from the European patrimony. During a week, the different ports of the "Small Sear" welcome fleets and boats of prestige between their moments of navigation. On the port of Vannes, It's the occasion to admire them and to meet theirs crews as well as to enjoy the festive ambiance: concerts, musical bals and traditional dances, spectacles, catering, animations ... From 26th May to 1st June 2025
A stage is installed on the ramparts of the city and concerts take place in the bars. A 100% free outdoor festival where jazz lovers and famous artists meet. Vannes Echos Jazz takes place every summer. From 17th to 20th July 2024
This big traditional festival about the culture of Brittany takes place every year around the 15th of August. In the historical centre of Vannes, spectacles of Breton dances, folkloric groups, concerts, parades in traditional costums, exhibitions...Highlight of these Arvor Festival : election of the queen and its dauphines ! Closure of the 3 days festival with a superb firework launched from the ramparts of Vannes. From 2nd to 4th August 2024
To visit...
From the seaport, companies offer cruising days on the Gulf of Morbihan, with stops on the islands. A great way to discover the "little sea" which is part of the Club of the most beautiful Bays of the World.
- Navix
- Compagnie du Golfe
- Bateaux Bus du Golfe (traversée pour l'île d'arz)
- Small tourist train
- History and archeology museum
- Saint Pierre Cathedral
- Museum of fine arts La Cohue
- Market on place of Lices in old town, wednesday or saturday morning
- Conleau peninsula with municipal beach and seawater pool