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Rochefort-en-Terre, a small 17th century town beside a dramatic gorge in the Morbihan region of Brittany, is a paradise of flowers, arts and crafts.

Bellow Making in RochefortBellow Making in Rochefort (click for larger image)

Rochefort-en-Terre, a small 17th century town beside a dramatic gorge in the Morbihan region of Brittany, is a paradise of flowers, arts and crafts.

Typical of its small artisan shops is this bellows maker, where Madame sits serenely crafting ‘soufflets’ by hand from quality wood and leather, decorating each pair of bellows with a traditional Breton design. The smell of the shop is as well worth lingering for as the fascination of her craft.

As I wandered the quiet, cobbled streets of Rochefort-en-Terre, every turn seemed to present a delightful new workshop. The basket maker who also creates colourful straw hats, a jewellery designer who styles art nouveau designs from wire, an artisan food shop, delightfully named ‘Entre Ciel et Art’. Even the shop signs are intentional works of art.

This dedication to beauty and creativity is also reflected in the flowers and plants on display, with geranium bursting from window boxes and buildings almost covered by a cloud of pale purple wisteria. For anyone who appreciates a visual treat, Rochefort-en-Terre is definitely worth a visit.