Crossing the Parc naturel régional de Brière, stop off at the village of Kerhinet in Saint-Lyphard, west of the marshes. The village is entirely pedestrianized and freely accessible all year round. Here you’ll discover life as it was in the past, in the heart of a delightful village of thatched cottages, saved from ruin in the 1970s.
A thatched-roof village in Loire-Atlantique
Near Saint-Nazaire, in the heart of the Brière Regional Nature Park, Saint-Lyphard boasts a heritage of 800 thatched cottages, scattered across numerous hamlets. The village of Kerhinet is the best known.
This former weavers’ village, entirely pedestrianized, is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Loire-Atlantique department. It welcomes almost 200,000 visitors every year. You’ll discover 18 thatched cottages restored in the traditional style of the Brière region, flowerbeds, an inn, a washhouse, a bread oven, craft stores and much more…
The best things to do in Kerhinet
This typical Brière village, reserved for pedestrians and strollers, is open all year round. Visits are free of charge. A large parking lot is located at the entrance to the village. You can then walk along the long driveway that leads to the thatched cottages of Kerhinet. There’s so much to see, you could easily spend a day here.
Visit the Maison du Parc: the ideal starting point for exploring the village of Kerhinet. There’s a permanent exhibition on the village’s heritage: thatched cottages, wash-house, bread ovens…
Explore the heritage discovery trail: this interpretive trail introduces visitors to the life of the former inhabitants of Kerhinet and the small heritage buildings (thatched cottages, wells, washhouse, two bread ovens, etc.).
Lunch at theAuberge de Kerhinet: in a rustic setting, discover traditional Brière dishes such as cassoulet briéron, pigeon de Mesquer, frog legs and eel en persillade.
Picnicking: every Thursday in summer, you can picnic on site with dishes prepared by local producers. Picnic area with benches and shaded tables.
Shopping at La Chaumière des Saveurs et de l’Artisanat: local artists, craftspeople and producers share a boutique in the heart of the village. Wooden creations, ceramics, artisan jewelry, savory groceries, basketry, clothing, natural cosmetics…
The thatched-roof house, the Briéron spirit
The Brière Regional Nature Park is home to nearly 3,000 thatched cottages spread throughout the region, representing around 60% of thatched roofs in France!
Thatch is a traditional roofing material. In the past, these roofs were made of rye straw or rush. Today, reed roofs are the most common in Brière.
Did you know? Abandoned during the XIXᵉ century, the village of Kerhinet almost disappeared before being saved from oblivion by the Parc naturel régional de Brière, which undertook its complete restoration from 1973 onwards.
At the Kerhinet market, fill your basket and your stomach
Every Thursday in summer, the village of Kerhinet hosts a farmers’ market, a showcase for local agriculture. A veritable institution for over thirty years, it brings together regulars and tourists around the same table. All this in a rural setting and a musical atmosphere.
More than twenty local farmers handle everything from direct sales to on-site catering: bread, cheeses, honey, charcuterie, organic vegetables, meat, pâtés, rillettes, marsh samphire, as well as artisanal products such as wool, essential oils, spirulina and saffron. And let’s not forget our craft beers and oysters from Mesquer, direct from the producer.
- Every Thursday in summer, July and August, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t miss: bread baking in the village wood-fired oven.
Park events
Within the village, the Parc naturel régional de Brière offers a host of activities organized throughout the year as part of the Rendez-vous du Parc program. On the program: guided tours, workshops and demonstrations of traditional skills (thatched roofing, wool weaving, basketry, woodturning…), discovery of flora and fauna, gourmet hikes, pony rides, artists’ workshops, educational farm.
Further information: www.parc-naturel-briere.com or call 02 40 91 68 68.
Kerhinet with children: a digital treasure hunt to discover the village
Do you know the Krapados? They’re the mischievous little elves who populate the Brière region. Dive into their digital world in the village of Kerhinet! Young and old alike can play games, solve riddles and observe the fabulous Brière heritage of Kerhinet. Download the Baludik application onto your smartphone. Meet at the entrance to the village, near the parking lot, to begin your quest!
How to get to Kerhinet
The village of Kerhinet is located in the commune of Saint-Lyphard, near the Grande Brière marshes, the Guérande salt marshes and the Bay of La Baule. After your visit to Kerhinet, you can spend the night in the heart of nature at Camping Paradis Les Rochelets, just 30 minutes from the Brière village.
- Via the D51, halfway between Saint-Lyphard and Guérande.
- Via the D47, between Saint-Lyphard and Saint-André-des-Eaux.
- Free parking available at the village entrance.
Photo : Sigoise – CC BY-SA 3.0 – Commons Wikimedia