Tro Breiz

[Pilgrim 122]

Hello,
has anyone walked this pilgrimage route in Brittany?
it is a pilgrimage around Brittany visiting the seven towns of the seven founding saints of Brittany.
I am planning to do so this Spring and wondered what other people's experiences of it were.
I am using the Lepere editions guide .

 

[mspath]

Check out this earlier Forum thread re Tro Breiz

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/tro-breiz-the-7-founding-saints-of-brittany.36479/

This site also would be helpful
http://www.trobreiz.com/

Happy reseach and planning!

 

[Pilgrim 122]

thank you for the links.
I am really enjoying planning this.

 

[AJ]

I was planning to do this a couple of years ago but didn't. As well as the Lepere guide I got "Le Guide du Tro Breiz" by Association Les Chemins du Tro Breiz et Bernard Rio.

The two routes differ, so you might like to get the other guide as well.

 

[Pilgrim 122]

I was planning to do this a couple of years ago but didn't. As well as the Lepere guide I got "Le Guide du Tro Breiz" by Association Les Chemins du Tro Breiz et Bernard Rio.

The two routes differ, so you might like to get the other guide as well.

Thanks AJ, I have been looking at the other book and I can see that route is quite a bit longer but it is useful to look at them both so I can decide on my route.

 

[mla1]

Hi Pilgrim 122,
Do post after you have done this walk. It is definitely on my list.
Would love to hear how you make out!
Good luck!

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Hi Pilgrim 122,
Do post after you have done this walk. It is definitely on my list.
Would love to hear how you make out!
Good luck!

Thanks , I will.
I am setting off on Easter Monday be back towards the end of May. Getting excited!

 

[NavyBlue]

Hello Pilgrim 122,

has anyone walked this pilgrimage route in Brittany?

I started walking the Tro Breiz last year, between Quimper and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. I will resume this year between Saint-Pol and Tréguier. All this within the "marche d'été" (collective organized walk, with some 1,000 to 1,500 pilgrims or walkers), beginning of August, with (optional) religious and/or regionalist features. Solves all the logistic problem . But you need 7 years for looping the loop.

Must be quite solitary in the meantime.

I will be glad to help as far as I can.

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Hello Pilgrim 122,



I started walking the Tro Breiz last year, between Quimper and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. I will resume this year between Saint-Pol and Tréguier. All this within the "marche d'été" (collective organized walk, with some 1,000 to 1,500 pilgrims or walkers), beginning of August, with (optional) religious and/or regionalist features. Solves all the logistic problem . But you need 7 years for looping the loop.

Must be quite solitary in the meantime.

I will be glad to help as far as I can.

Thanks NavyBlue, I was wondering whether there would be any other pilgrims. It would be nice if I met one or two on my journey.
Did you have the pilgrim passport?
I have emailed the Tro Breiz association but no reply. I wondered if it is available in the seven cathedrals?. I am starting in Dol de Bretagne.

 

[NavyBlue]

Hello,

I have no pilgrim passport, which is not delivered to the "marche d'été" participants.

But there is a passport for individual walkers : http://www.pelerin.com/Pelerinages/...-pratiques/Balisage-budget-conseils-pratiques, as well as a "compostella" equivalent for all.

The association has recently moved from Saint-Pol to Carnoët, which might slow any answer from them.

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Hello,

I have no pilgrim passport, which is not delivered to the "marche d'été" participants.

But there is a passport for individual walkers : http://www.pelerin.com/Pelerinages/...-pratiques/Balisage-budget-conseils-pratiques, as well as a "compostella" equivalent for all.

The association has recently moved from Saint-Pol to Carnoët, which might slow any answer from them.

Thanks For you help with this.
I have found the new address on line so am going to write to them. there is a phone number but I find communicating in French on the phone quite a challenge so it will be the last resort!

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Hello Pilgrim 122,



I started walking the Tro Breiz last year, between Quimper and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. I will resume this year between Saint-Pol and Tréguier. All this within the "marche d'été" (collective organized walk, with some 1,000 to 1,500 pilgrims or walkers), beginning of August, with (optional) religious and/or regionalist features. Solves all the logistic problem . But you need 7 years for looping the loop.

Must be quite solitary in the meantime.

I will be glad to help as far as I can.

Can you tell me how the section you did was , in particular the monts d'arree? How steep was this section?

 

[NavyBlue]

The section is globally easy. Some limited ups and downs, all of them manageable. We "climbed" the "Roche de Feu" (Rock of Fire...) in the Monts d'Arrée, an easy path, nice landscape around : 1st minute of this video https://www.youtube.com/embed/0c8GPGxe3DQ?rel=0&autoplay=1
https://www.youtube.com/embed/0c8GPGxe3DQ?rel=0&autoplay=1
A short descent was equipped with a rope, just for the fun of it. You could use stairs alongside instead...

 

[grayland]

Thanks for sharing the video. It was difficult to visualize the large groups walking and the video was great.
A couple of questions on logistics:
How many people in group each day?
What accommodation is available for all those people?
What are the daily distances?

 

[Pilgrim 122]

The section is globally easy. Some limited ups and downs, all of them manageable. We "climbed" the "Roche de Feu" (Rock of Fire...) in the Monts d'Arrée, an easy path, nice landscape around : 1st minute of this video https://www.youtube.com/embed/0c8GPGxe3DQ?rel=0&autoplay=1
A short descent was equipped with a rope, just for the fun of it. You could use stairs alongside instead...

Thanks!
That is really helpful , it's good to have an idea I can see it's quite manageable.
I don't think I will be using the rope though!

 

[NavyBlue]

A couple of questions on logistics:
How many people in group each day?
What accommodation is available for all those people?
What are the daily distances?

Hello Grayland,

The general scheme for the "marche d'été" :
- all the pilgrims walk the same section on the same day.
- Space is available in communal buildings, gyms etc. for some 300 people, sleeping on their own pads. Supposes to enlist early. Otherwise, you bring your tent and camp in a football field or local park designated by the organization, and use the corresponding sanitary spaces. We preferred this latter solution and did not regret it, as the common spaces may be a bit noisy.
- You can purchase your food locally and cook. More easy is to rely on prepared meals. Lunch is taken in the open, your picnic tray is available at a truck. Dinner and breakfast are served (hot) in covered spaces (gyms...). Water is dispensed by the organization at regular intervals along the day.
- You can have a bag and your tent carried by truck, and get them at the end of the day.
- The average daily distance is 25 km. You can walk at your own rythm, within a timeframe (i.e. not before starting time, and not after closing time, when the temporary signage is removed). The timeframe is large, people of all ages cope in. You are not asked to walk within a given "chapter" (regional or else) as you are required in some pilgrimages. So you can walk alone or chat with other pilgrims to your liking. I did not have the feeling to walk within a crowd. However the whole "caravan" may stop before bottlenecks in the path ; time for singing... You can't get lost ; in addition to signage, staff people will show you the direction at crossings, and assure your safety while crossing roads.
- As far as I remember, the participants are mostly French, but not all.
- Participants are given a booklet with some details on the stages, song lyrics...
- Religious events are proposed in the evenings, as well as "festou noz" (literally "night fests") with traditional britton music and dances.
- The "marche d'été" is organized on a seven-year basis. The 2017 stage will be the last one of a full loop.

Details for 2017 are available here http://www.trobreiz.com/telechargement/tel_marche_ete.php

Feel free to ask if I have forgotten something of interest.

 

[grayland]

Thank you, NavyBlue, for the detailed picture of the Tro Breiz.

It is a very different experience than most of us have experienced.

 

[NavyBlue]

It is a very different experience than most of us have experienced.

Sure. But not an unpleasant one. Looks like a fair portion of the Tro Breiz participants have a previous experience on the Camino.

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Hi Pilgrim 122,
Do post after you have done this walk. It is definitely on my list.
Would love to hear how you make out!
Good luck!

I completed the Tro Breiz as planned this spring following mostly the route suggested in the Lepere guide.

It was a solitary pilgrimage, which suited me. I did not meet any other pilgrims although local people often stopped and chatted to me . Anyone considering this would be advised to be able to speak a bit of French. Almost all the French people I spoke to knew of the Tro Breiz pilgrimage, a couple had walked sections of it in the group pilgrimage in the summer.

There were so many interesting churches and lot of saints to discover, which I particularly enjoyed. I took a detour off the route to visit Dirnon and the tomb of St Nonne the mother of St David of Wales.

I walked for 34 days and took 2 rest days, one at the sanctuary of St Anne d'Auray and the other at Morlaix from where I took a trip to visit la vallee des saints at Carnoet which was quite something! http://www.lavalleedessaints.com/

it was completely different to walking on the Camino where you have one destination as there were seven. You really do get a tour of Brittany and there is a plentiful supply of the Breton traditional food, crepes, salted caramel sauce, tarte bretange, kouign amann ( delicious cake).

I stayed in chambre d'hotes and hotels which I arranged before I left. It was not a budget trip as Brittany is a popular holiday destination. I am happy to share my accommodation list with anyone who would like it.

I really enjoyed my pilgrimage, if you would like a bit of time to yourself this one's for you.

 

[NavyBlue]

Hi Pilgrim 122,

I'm glad to see that you went on with your project and liked this pilgrimage.

 

[mspath]

Pilgrim 122,

Thanks for your update!
Glad to learn that you have happily and successfully completed the Tro Breiz. Now it is your turn to help potentual pilgrims find their way to and through those very special paths in Brittany.

Thanks for sharing your happy news!

 

[Pilgrim 122]

Thanks NavyBlue and mspath, I will be be happy to share my experiences.

 

[NavyBlue]

Hi,

Things are moving forward, for individual pilgrims.

A new association, itinerary marking in progress, a guidebook to be printed soon...

The details are here.

 

[NavyBlue]

a guidebook to be printed soon...
The details are here.

Hi,

The first "Breizh ma bro" guide has been published :