La Roche-Bernard is set in the middle of one of perhaps the most interesting parts of North-Western France. A short distance to the west we have the beautiful Gulf of Morbihan, with the ancient city of Vannes at its head, its sprinkling of islands rich in ancient graves and standing stones, its pretty little ports, the fabulous castles of Suscinio and the Towers of Elven and its beautiful clean, sandy beaches.

To the south lies the ancient walled city of Guérande, a northern version of Carcassonne, but with its medieval walls never having been breached; the area around is one of the great salt-producing areas of Europe; there are yet more gorgeous beaches including, a few minutes' drive further south, La Baule - probably the most chic resort away from the French Riviera, with its remarkably long and beautiful beach, arguably among the finest in Europe.

To the south and slightly east is the fascinating national park of Grande Brière, the second largest wetland in France (after The Camargue), a secret land where each little village has its own special character and hidden charm, and where over the centuries the locals have eked out a living grazing sheep on the marshland, digging peat, cutting reeds and spearing eels. Boats can be hired or guided tours can be taken to see the rich variety of wildlife. There are said to be more thatched cottages in this area than in any other similarly-sized area in Europe.

As if that wasn't enough, you can wander up the River Vilaine, visit Rennes, Nantes and Vannes (none more than 40 minutes away) for shopping and really vast markets, and there are standing stones at St-Just near Redon that are said to be as important as, but far less well known than, those at Carnac. Add to that a restored medieval Paper Mill where you can see paper made using ancient methods, Branfere Wildlife Park where you can hold hands with a wallaby, boat trips, more restaurants than you could visit in thirty holidays - what more could ask for? Even the weather is a few degrees warmer than the rest of Brittany!

LA BRIÈRE

This picture offers just a taste of the haunting area of La Brière.

The National Park was created in 1970 -its duties, to create traditional housing (thatched cottages, lock-keepers houses), to restore a typical Brière village, Kerhinet, and to organise exhibits, cultural events and recreational activities.

A visit to the charming hamlet mentioned above, Kerhinet, offers excellent opportunities for photos. One of the cottages has a restored interior, revealing the typical dirt floor, furnishings and kitchen utensils that were traditionally found.

An interesting tour can be taken by horse and cart (calèche) as well as by boat (barque).

GUÉRANDE

The splendid walled medieval town of Guérande overlooks the sparkling salt marshes on which its fortune has long been based.The city wall was built in the 14th century and is completely intact, never having been breached in war or peace, and it is easy to see why it is such a popular setting for film-makers. The central church of St-Aubin is surrounded by a maze of winding, cobbled streets, and there are markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Amongst the art galleries and souvenir and craft shops there are still the more normal outlets - butchers, newsagents, cafes, boulangeries and estate agents. You will find that time passes quickly as you wander through Guerande's enchanted streets.