Benodet: Brittany’s Cultural Capital By Eamon Hoolihan At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Benodet, located in the south of Brittany, is a pleasant seaside resort which offers plenty for families to do whilst on their camping holidays in Brittany. The town may not be quite as well known as Brittany’s more populated resorts of St. Malo and Brest, but this quiet town has inspired countless artists throughout history and even claims that its local fisherman discovered America long before Columbus did in 1492.

The old town charm of Benodet has made it a popular destination for families on their Brittany camping holidays, and whilst the area can easily lay claim to several of the prettiest campsites in Brittany, those in the know choose to flock to La Pointe St Gilles. The campsite boasts an impressive pool complex with several waterchutes and its own outdoor jacuzzi, meaning that you don’t even need to leave your Brittany campsite in order to keep your family happy and entertained. However, with a pretty marina and perfect sandy beaches you’ll certainly want to get out and discover the charms of this seaside town.

There are numerous walking trails around Benodet and one of the most scenic is along the French trail system to the nearby town of Quimper, famous for its bustling seafood market. This romantic countryside walk takes in old castles, small streams and verdant woodland, but if you’re feeling slightly more pushed for time on your Brittany camping holiday, it is also possible to take a boat trip into the town along the Odet river.

After your scenic walk you may wish to recharge your batteries in Benodot’s Thalassotherapy Centre. Thalassotherapy uses the properties of the nearby marine environment for health and, because of its ideal location by the sea, Benodet has become one of the premier destinations in Europe for in which to take a thalassotherapy holiday.

Emile Zola, Andre Suarez, Eugene Boudin and Guillaume Apollinaire are just a few of the artists and writers that were attracted to the town of Benodot, and Eugene Boudin’s canvases have managed to beautifully capture the historic town in all its former glory.

On your Brittany camping holiday, you will come across the Odet River, which snakes through the old town and has played a pivotal part in shaping Benodet’s history. Although the port was built in the 6th century, the area has been a crossroads for trade with Spain, England and the Netherlands since the Middle Ages. Legend has it that local fisherman hunted whales from this region all the way to Newfoundland and in the process discovered America long before Columbus in 1492. Whether this or true or not is a subject of much debate, but one thing’s that’s certain is the locals’ propensity to tell a good story. This seems to be a hangover from the town’s Celtic past, when tales of mysterious sunken cities and of Death prowling the streets with a wooden cart were part of local folklore. Nowadays it is still believed by some that the coast of Brittany is the final resting place of the Holy Grail, a myth that was perpetuated with the release of the Da Vinci Code. But even if you’re unsuccessful on your quest to find the chalice, you’re certain to find plenty more to occupy yourself with on a Brittany camping holiday to Benodot.

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