Pontivy, Administrative center in Morbihan, France
Description
Pontivy is a commune in northern Morbihan that sits where the Blavet River meets the Canal de Nantes à Brest. The town has a medieval quarter with timber-framed houses around a castle and a newer quarter with straight streets near the canal.
History
A monk named Ivy built the first bridge over the Blavet in the 7th century and gave the place its name, which means Ivy's bridge. Napoleon renamed it Napoleonville in 1804 because it was militarily important, but the old name returned after his fall.
Culture
The town goes by Pondi in Breton, and many signs use both names because the region spoke only Breton for centuries. You hear both languages at the market and in shops, with older residents switching to Breton more often.
Practical
The town sits centrally between larger cities in Brittany and works well as a stopover when driving through the region. The streets in the older quarter are narrow and cobbled, so comfortable shoes help.
Did you know?
The canal links the Atlantic and the English Channel and was originally dug to bypass British blockades, but now only leisure boats pass through. Some locks still work by hand and you can watch lock keepers at work.
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Pontivy Castle
198 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie de Pontivy
293 m
Église Saint-Mériadec-de-Stival de Pontivy
2.9 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Houssaye
2.6 km
Caserne Clisson
610 m
Église Saint-Joseph de Pontivy
716 m
Chapelle Sainte-Tréphine de Pontivy
1.9 km
Tumulus de Nillizien
743 m
Fontaine de Saint-Mériadec
3.1 km
Croix de la Houssaye
2.6 km
Rue du Fil
182 mViaduc de Stival
3.8 kmÉcluse de Kerdudaval
1.5 km
Théâtre des Halles
120 m
Écluse de La Cascade
1.5 kmÉcluse de Parc Lann Hoarem
3 kmÉcluse de Kervert
948 m
Frédéric Henri Le Normand de Lourmel
462 m
Maison des Trois-Piliers
205 mÉcluse du Ponteau
662 mÉcluse de Guernal
3.3 kmÉcluse de La Haie
2.4 kmÉcluse de Kerveno
3.5 kmÉcluse de Tren Deur Roz
3.7 km
Rendez-vous de chasse des Rohan
164 m
Château du Gros-Chêne
1.8 kmÉcluse de La Villeneuve
2 kmLa paysanne et le paysan de Pontivy
466 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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