Top 3 unusual things to do in the King Morvan region
A bit bored of traditional visits and activities and always looking for something different? These 3 experiences will satisfy your craving for the sensational.
The world's biggest pancake contest in Gourin!
Gourin isn't just the capital of the Montagnes Noires... it's also the venue for an annual competition that's as delicious as it is hilarious! Every summer, during the Fête de la Crêpe, everyone can take part in the world's biggest crêpe competition. Of course, it's fun, but be warned: it's very serious and, above all, very difficult!
- Firstly: so as not to disadvantage the youngest, the participants are divided into 2 categories: children and adults.
- Secondly: to ensure that all participants have an equal chance of success, the dough and materials are provided by the committee.
- Thirdly: 5 criteria are used to decide between the participants: roundness, diameter, cooking, thickness and general appearance.
And yes, size isn't everything! That's why a crepe that's bigger than another can be downgraded and not get on the podium!
To date, the record is held by an out-of-competition winner who, in 2005, managed the feat of making a crepe 96 cm in diameter! Incredible, isn't it?
If you fancy smashing this phenomenal record, or if you'd rather just be a spectator, come along to the Fête de la Crêpe. You can dance, watch Celtic circles perform and, of course, eat pancakes!
The very surprising sablières in the King Morvan region!
Sandpits are beams located at the top of the walls of churches and chapels, and are found mainly in Brittany. They are very rare elsewhere in France or Europe.
In the Pays du Roi Morvan, there are some very fine sablières carved between the 15th and 17th centuries. They depict scenes from everyday life and a whole unusual world: dragons, centaurs, unicorns, fabulous animals and more...
Before going any further, it's worth pointing out that in the Middle Ages, the notion of modesty was different, and people were easily provocative. So here are a few examples of what naughty craftsmen came up with to amuse the faithful in religious buildings:
- mischievous monkeys that hide nothing of their anatomy in the chapel of Notre-Dame de Kerlénat in Locmalo
- farting little men await you at Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul church in Guiscriff
- an exhibitionist contortionist greets visitors in the funniest of ways at the chapel of Saint-Nicolas in Priziac
- the famous 'pisseur' from Le Croisty proudly displays his attributes in the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
- oh but then! What's that dog holding in its mouth in the chapel of Saint-Hervé in Gourin? We'll let you have a look!
To find out more about these mischievous antics and many other jaw-dropping surprises, check out the opening times of the churches and chapels. We bet you'll never see religious heritage in the same way again?
The astonishing secrets of cosmetics in the Middle Ages at Guémené-sur-Scorff!
The adage "You have to suffer to be beautiful" is not new. The proof is in the cosmetics recipes you can discover around a medieval sauna at the Bains de la Reine in Guémené-sur-Scorff.
Very early on, men and women were concerned about their well-being and their physical appearance. Rigorous beauty standards already existed in the Middle Ages, and they were not easy to achieve.
Lime and arsenic were used to remove hair, saltpetre and mercury to whiten the complexion, and pumice stone was used to brush the teeth... Ouch, ouch! It must have been horribly painful!
If you're a fan of chills down your spine, this is the tour for you.
A word of warning: personally, we haven't tried any of these scary recipes and can't be held responsible if you do!
Little bonus
The unexpected 100-potato festival in Langonnet!
To be more precise, this rather zany festival is taking place in Trinité-Langonnet. To take part in the activities, you pay in potatoes. You play potatoes to win potatoes, being careful not to lose too many... And at the end of the day, everyone eats... potatoes! The atmosphere is guaranteed to get you going? No, it's potatoes, of course!
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Inspirations and great experiences!
