Baud

Set within the lush Blavet river valley in the center of the Morbihan department, the small town of Baud gives a distinct mix of history and folklore. Its most mysterious landmark is the Vénus de Quinipily, a roughly hewn, two-meter-tall granite statue whose precise age and origins remain fiercely debated, featuring carvings that hint at both Celtic and ancient Egyptian influences. The town also hosts the Cartopole, a specialized museum preserving tens of thousands of vintage postcards. This massive visual archive provides an extraordinary window into late 19th-century Breton peasant life, documenting traditional headdresses and forgotten trades. Immediately outside the town lies the expansive Forest of Camors, historically the industrial center for Breton wooden clog makers (sabotiers), which now provides miles of shaded trails for mountain biking and hiking. Historically, the current of the Blavet river powered numerous paper mills, and the moss-covered stone remains of these structures can still be spotted along the riverbanks. The sturdy stone architecture of the town center contains traditional bakeries specializing in local staples, particularly the heavily buttered Kouign-Amann pastry.

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