We’ll head to Pont-Aven, 15 minutes from Mêlan sur mer along the river Bélon, where the famous Bélon oysters come from. This small town built of granite, still has a number of old water mills and sluices where the Aven river runs through the centre of the town to the attractive port.
It is best-known for the group of 19th century's artists who gathered around Paul Gauguin, the post-impressionist painter and friend of Van Gogh. Some years before Gauguin arrived, the town had already become a vibrant international artists colony, attracting painters from all over Europe and North America. The first group that arrived consisted of American art students from Philadelphia. The town still attracts tourists and there are numerous galleries in town.
We’ll buy some galettes from the Biscuiterie Traou Mad where these butter biscuits were invented in 1920. And we’ll take a lovely river walk through the Bois d’Amour, a source of inspiration for the artists, to arrive at the Chapel of Trémalo which still contains the carving of le Christ Jaune, the inspiration for one of Paul Gauguin’s most famous paintings. This little 16th c chapel is privately owned and always open in the day time, which always amazes me!
Don’t forget to look at the figurines on the wall plates and the carvings on the ends of the roof beams. Can you find the rabbit playing a trumpet on a dog’s back?
