Places to visit in Quimper

Quimper Airport may not be as well-known as some larger international airports. However, it still offers plenty of tourism options for travelers and visitors. Located in the beautiful region of Brittany, Quimper is a charming city with a rich history and stunning architecture.

One of the top attractions near the airport is the Cathedral St. Corentin, a magnificent Gothic masterpiece from the 13th century. It is worth visiting for its impressive stained glass windows and intricate stone carvings.

For nature lovers, there are also plenty of opportunities to explore the breathtaking landscapes surrounding Quimper. From picturesque coastal walks along the rugged cliffs to peaceful hikes through ancient forests, there's something for everyone here.

Foodies will also be delighted by its local food. The city is known for its delicious regional cuisine, including mouthwatering seafood dishes and traditional Breton pancakes called galettes.

Check out one of Quimper's museums or art galleries if you want cultural immersion. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper houses an impressive collection of paintings from various periods. At the same time, the Musee Breton showcases local folklore and traditions.

Despite being small, this airport opens up a world of possibilities for tourists to explore this enchanting region full of history, natural beauty, culinary delights, and cultural treasures.

Aside from the attractions listed below, you can also browse https://www.getyourguide.com to learn more about other tourism options in France.

Cathedrale Saint-Corentin

Address: 44 place Saint-Corentin CS 26004 - 29107 Quimper cedex

Phone: 02 98 98 89 89

Email: contact@quimper.bzh

At the beginning of the 13th century, the policy of Philippe-Auguste practically established the influence of Ile-de-France on Brittany, supported by an administration of French origin.

In 1239, the bishop of Quimper, Raynaud, also of French origin, decided to found a new choir intended to replace that of the Romanesque period. Thus, he began the construction site of a large Gothic cathedral in the far west to draw inspiration from the constructions of Ile-de-France and become a place of experimentation from which formulas adopted by all of Lower Brittany would later emerge.

The choir has four straight bays with ambulatory and side chapels. It is extended towards the east by a three-sided chevet, which opens onto a roundabout formed by five chapels and an apsidal chapel with two bays and a flat chevet dedicated to the Virgin.

Musee Des Beaux-Arts De Quimper

Address: 40, PLACE SAINT-CORENTIN 29000 QUIMPER

Phone: 02 98 95 45 20

In the middle of the 19th century, Quimper, the prefecture of Finistère and capital of Cornouaille was only a modest town of 12,000 inhabitants. It cannot be compared to regional capitals such as Rennes or Nantes, where the first museums were created at the end of the 18th or the beginning of the 19th century from collections seized from emigrants, Church property, and deposits from the Central Museum of Arts.

In Quimper, considered by Jacques Cambry as a "city without fortune and without enthusiasm for the arts," the painter François Valentin (1738–1805) tried to create a museum from some old works recovered in the region. But without means and without enough work, his project aborts. In the middle of the 19th century, attention turned more readily to archeology and local history.

In 1862, the General Council of Finistère voted the principle of the creation in Quimper of a departmental museum, essentially devoted to Finistère archeology, which would house the collections brought together since 1845 by a learned society, archaeological Finistère, and kept in a room in the college for young girls.

Except for the cities of Saint-Malo, which, in 1861, undertook to collect some portraits and historical souvenirs, and Vannes, where the archaeological objects gathered by Polymathique du Morbihan had been stored since 1826, no museum existed in Brittany west of the Rennes-Nantes line when Quimper decided to create a fine arts museum in 1864.

This creation is exceptional. It is not a question of bringing together a few local works and a few State deposits but of receiving the considerable collection of Jean-Marie de Silguy, who has just disappeared: 1,200 paintings, 2,000 drawings, 12,000 engravings, and several dozen works of art.

Odet River

Address: 2 avenue de l'Odet 29950 Benodet

Phone: 02 98 57 00 58

Email: contact@vedettes-odet.com

Captivating, wild, untamed, and a bit mysterious, the Odet well deserves its title of "prettiest river in France," awarded by Émile Zola himself during a stay in Cornouaille. And when you discover the river for the first time, you understand what the writer meant. Wooded landscapes punctuated by castles and mansions of character, a veritable ball of sea and river birds, or even forgotten coves bursting with sunshine.

And when the banks of the Odet take on rosy colors, it's more than a spectacle; it's a fairy tale of lights in this majestic setting. Wild rhododendrons invade the bank several meters high in May to make way for a breathtaking purple.

In the company of a guide passionate about the region and Breton traditions, the local culture and historical anecdotes will hold no secrets for you.

Le Jardin de la Retraite

Address: 44 place Saint-Corentin CS 26004 - 29107 Quimper cedex

Phone: 02 98 98 89 89

Email: contact@quimper.bzh

Since 1997, the garden has been designed along the Odet, close to the abbey, using aromatic and ancient plants in homage to the monastic gardens of Anne of Brittany (1477-1514). Symbols from various religions can be seen. Its symbolic life-giving and cleansing water runs from a fountain housed in a central kiosk, much like the four rivers that nourished Eden. The oak pergola is reminiscent of a vault in the sky, and the pathways take the shape of crosses.

The enclosed stone walks offer a welcome change of view and provide some useful background information. Produce is sold in stacked squares and sorted by purpose. You can definitely feel the slate. Mulch, decoration, and a sturdy base for the display of plants are all possible applications. The Latin and French names for each species have been meticulously recorded. Unlike any other garden in the metro area, this one is truly special.

Cidrerie Manoir du Kinkiz

Address: 75, chemin du Quinquis Ergué-Armel 29000 Quimper

Phone: +33 (0)2 98 90 20 57

In 1995, the first of its kind Alambic Museum opened in Brittany. Two years later, it took home the "Industrial Tourism" trophy as its unique award.

Hervé Seznec, his son, sought out a practical method to improve brand recognition, understanding that satisfied clients make excellent advocates. He was determined to "open the walls" when he gained control of the Distillery.

There will be a press, a granite apple tower from the 17th century, and stationary and mobile stills with ironing or continuous distillation.

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