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Start from the Esplanade Simone Veil, between Place Gambetta and the tourist office, near the Port of Vannes. Park in the port’s underground car park (pay-and-display).
(S/E) On leaving the car park, head towards the port. Then turn left onto Quai Éric Tabarly and walk along the port on your right. At the end, turn right until you reach the traffic lights. Then turn left and cross Place Gambetta in two stages.
(1) Continue straight ahead between two bar-restaurants and pass under the Porte Saint-Vincent. Carry on straight ahead and walk up the street of the same name. Walk around the left-hand side of the Place du Poids Public, then continue for a few more metres along Rue Saint-Vincent.
Turn right onto Rue Porte Poterne and walk past the market hall on your left. At the corner (with an old gate opposite), turn left into a narrow street and walk past a car park. Climb the steps on the right at the foot of the Tour du Connétable to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the rampart gardens.
Continue down the alley and cross Place Lucien Laroche. Follow Rue de la Monnaie, then take the first left into Rue des Orfèvres. Cross Place Valencia and you’ll arrive at the foot of a half-timbered house bearing the sign “Vannes et sa femme”, on the corner of Rue Noé.
(2) Walk a few metres along Rue Noé and turn right into the entrance courtyard of Château Gaillard. Retrace your steps.
(2) With your back to the sign, take the unmarked path opposite (Rue des Halles on the map). At the end, turn left onto Rue Saint-Salomon and continue to No. 13 (a house with wooden statuettes of dogs).
Retrace your steps and, at the junction, continue straight on along Rue Saint-Salomon. Cross Place Henri IV diagonally to the right towards the cathedral.
(3) Continue to the entrance of the Cathedral (open during the day). Retrace your steps.
(3) Continue straight on towards a large building (early 20th century?) with a distinctive turret and immediately turn right into Rue des Chanoines. Walk past the cathedral on your right and take the first left, Rue Auguste Brizeux. Walk to the Porte du Bourreau and retrace your steps.
Turn left and continue downhill along Rue des Chanoines. Walk past a small triangular square on your right and pass under the Porte Prison. Then turn left into Rue Francis Decker, then right into Rue Saint-Nicolas.
(4) At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine and walk past the foot of Saint-Patern Church. Continue along Rue de la Fontaine, then turn right at a sharp angle into Ruelle du Recteur.
Walk past the chancel of the church and across Place Sainte-Catherine. At the junction, head down Rue Saint-Patern to the right, keeping the church on your right.
(4) Back at the crossroads, turn left onto Place Charles de Gaulle. At the end, turn right onto Rue Alain Le Grand. Cross Rue Francis Decker, then turn left and go down the steps leading to the rampart gardens.
Cross the garden, following a stream on your left and noting the ramparts and the Tour du Connétable on your right. At the end, go round the old wash houses on the right (access to the interior is possible). Climb a flight of steps and, at the top, turn left to cross the stream (a lovely view of the wash houses).
At the traffic lights, turn right and follow Rue Alexandre Le Pontois slightly downhill. You’ll look out over the garden of the Château de l’Hermine, the castle itself clearly visible on your right. At the next set of traffic lights, turn right and you’ll reach Place Gambetta.
(1) Cross the square in two stages, heading towards the harbour. Turn right then left to walk along the harbour and find the entrance to the car park where you started on your right (S/E).
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