Sabine Baring-Gould - Brittany

It may interest some travellers to be able to identify some of the more common Saints of Brittany whose statues are to be found in the churches, chapels, and over the Holy Wells. A few of the Roman Saints are added who are thrusting the native ones from their niches.

Ste. Anne, with the B.V.M. at her side, sometimes with her on one arm and Christ on the other.

S. Armel, in a brown habit, with a cap on his head, an amice over the right shoulder, with a dragon whom he holds by a stole.

Ste. Aude or Haude, as a damsel carrying her head.

S. Bieuzy, as a monk with his head cleft.

S. Brioc, as a bishop with a wolf licking his feet.

S. Budoc, as a bishop with a barrel at his side.

S. Cadoc, as an abbot holding a bell.

S. Corentin, as a bishop carrying a fish.

S. David, as an archbishop with archiepiscopal crozier.

S. Edern, as a monk riding on a stag.

S. Efflam, in ducal habit, with sceptre, treading on a dragon.

S. Fiacre, in brown habit, holding a spade.

S. Fingar, Eguinger, or Guingar, as a prince, with sword and palm branch.

S. Gildas, in monastic habit, with a snarling dog at his feet.

S. Gwen Teirbron, seated, with crown, and three breasts, her children on her knees or at her feet.

S. Gwénole (Winwaloe), as an abbot, no special symbol.

S. Haude, a damsel carrying her head.

S. Herbot, as an anchorite with an ox at his feet.

S. Hervé, as a blind monk, a boy or a wolf at his side.

S. Meliau, as a king or duke, bearing sword and palm branch, or sceptre.

S. Melor, a boy with one hand and one foot cut off.

Ste. Ninnoc, in robes as a nun, a stag at her feet.

Ste. Noyala, as a princess holding her head in her hands.

S. Paul of Léon, in episcopal habits, treading on a dragon, and with a bell in his hands.

S. Samson, as archbishop.

S. Solomon, in royal robes, and with a dagger in his breast.

S. Thégonnec, as a bishop with a cart drawn by wolves.

S. Theilo, as an abbot or bishop riding on a stag.

S. Tujean, as a bishop with a mad dog at his side.

S. Vincent Ferrier, in monastic habit, holding a trumpet, and with wings.

S. Yves, in a white robe with long sleeves and doctor's bonnet, giving judgment sometimes between a rich suitor and a poor man.

S. Anthony of Padua, as a Franciscan, with the Child Jesus on one arm.

S. Barbara, with a tower at her side.

S. Cornelius, as Pope, with an ox at his feet.

S. Eligius, as bishop, with a horse at his side.

S. Isidore, dressed as a Breton peasant in bragoubraz (baggy breeches), holding a sickle.

S. Joseph, aged and holding a lily, sometimes with the Child Jesus on his arm.

S. Roch, as a pilgrim showing a wound in one leg.

In the humblest village one may reckon on obtaining good meals, but not always on having dry sheets. It is not customary to air the latter, and except in hot dry weather, it is well to be on one's guard in this matter. Water should never be drunk. Too frequently it is drawn from the well in the yard, and is contaminated. Coffee in out of the way parts, even at such headquarters as Carhaix, is not coffee at all, but roast lupin berries. 1 1 This is mixed with chicory, and is very liable to upset the stomach. The ordinary charge for déjeuner at 11.30 is 2.50, with cider and coffee, and 3 francs for dinner at 7 p.m. But in second class inns is 50 centimes less. A bed is usually 1.50 or 2 francs. Sanitary arrangements are rudimentary. Usually one can rely on freedom from vermin, but it is well to be provided with a small bottle of oil of lavender, a preservative against bugs; but it will be needed exceptionally only. The commercial traveller is all pervading. He is sometimes interesting, occasionally objectionable, if a farceur usually the latter. On entering a café or railway carriage, it is customary to raise the hat, so also in leaving. For Maps get those of the État Majeur, 57 Brest, 73 Châteaulin, 60 Dinan, 41 Lannion, 88 Lorient, 58 Morlaix, 117 Nantes, 40 Plouguerneau, 74 Pontivy, 87 Pont l'Abbé, 72 Quimper, 90 Redon, 75 Rennes, 59 S. Brieuc, 42 Tréguier, 89 Vannes, 102 Belle Ile, 56 Ouessant. Of these each has 4 sheets, N.W., N.E., S.W., S.E., except these – 102 Belle Ile has a single sheet, S.E., Lannion has only N.E., S.W., S.E., 56 Ouessant has only N.E., 87 Pont l'Abbé only N.E., Tréguier only N.W., S.W., S.E.

Each sheet costs about 25 centimes or 2½d. The same can be had in colours at 1 franc per sheet, but there is no great advantage in these latter.

In this book routes have not been given, as there is such a diversity of manner of travelling in these days, some going by train, and some by bicycle and motor car. For the latter the best map is that published by the cycling club, as it gives the roads that are suitable, and the hills are all indicated. The line adopted in this book has been to give the chefs-lieux d'arrondissement, and a few other places that are suitable as centres, and to indicate what is to be seen within an easy range all round.

Less details have been given relative to the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine, at least as to certain portions of it which do not offer much of interest to encourage a visit, and with regard to Loire Inférieure only the truly Breton region of Guérande and S. Nazaire has been included.

The following list of headquarters is recommended, whence excursions may be made radiating on all sides. Places of little moment and regions that need not occupy a visitor's time are omitted.

Côtes-du-Nord. – Dinan. Thence Lamballe, Plancoet, Ploubalay, Dol, Jugon, Becherel.

Guingamp. Thence Belle-Ile, Pontrieux, Plouagat, Bourbriac.

Lannion. Thence Perros-Guirec, Plestin.

Loudéac. Thence Uzel, Plouguenast, La Chèze, Mur.

Paimpol. Thence Lézardrieux, Pontrieux, Plouha and Iles de Bréhat.

Plouaret. Thence Plestin, Begard and Belle-Ile.

Rostrenen. Thence S. Nicolas du Pélem, Maël Carhaix, Goarec.

S. Brieuc. Thence Etables, Châtelaudren, Quintin, Lamballe.

Tréguier. Thence Lézardrieux, La Roche-Derrien.

Finistère. – Audierne. The Cap Sizun.

Brest. Thence S. Rénan, Ploudalmezeau, Lannilis, Plabennec, and Ouessant.

Châteaulin. Thence Crozon, Le Faou, Pleyben.

Châteauneuf-le-Faou. Thence Pleyben and Montagnes Noires.

Huelgoët. The Montagnes d'Arrée.

Landerneau. Thence Daoulas, Ploudiry, Sizun, and the Montagnes d'Arrée.

Landivisiau. Thence S. Thégonnec, Plouzévédé, Ploudiry and Sizun.

Lesneven, the coast by Plounéour-trez.

Morlaix. Thence Lanmeur, Taulé, Plouigneau, S. Thégonnec.

Pont-aven. Concarneau, Fouesnant.

Pont l'Abbé, the Penmarch peninsula.

Ploudalmezeau, Lannilis, and the coast.

S. Pol-de-Léon. Plouescat and the Ile-de-Batz.

Quimper may be made a centre for much, owing to several lines of railway diverging from it. Briec, Rosporden, Douarnenez, Pont Croix, Plougastel S. Germain, Pont l'Abbé.

Quimperlé. Thence Bannalec, Pont-aven, Pont Scorff.

Morbihan. – Auray. Thence Pluvigner, Belz, Carnac, Quiberon.

Baud. Thence Pluvigner, Locminé and the Blavet River.

Grand-Champ. Thence the Landes de Lanvaux, and S. Jean de Brévelez.

Hennebont. Thence Pont Scorff, Plonay, Lorient, Port Louis.

La Faouët. Thence Gourin and Guéméné.

Ploermel. Thence Josselin, Mauron, Guer, La Trinité-Porhoet.

Pontivy. Thence Cleguerec, Guéméné, the Blavet valley, Mur, Rohan.

Rochefort-en-Terre. Thence Elven, and the Lande de Lanvaux, Malestroit, la Gacelly, Questembert.

Vannes. The Morbihan, and Sarzeau, Elven and Grand Champ.

Ille-et-Vilaine. – Becherel. Thence Tinténiac, Hédé.