Tro Breiz. Marking, budget & practical advice

The pilgrim's notebook: the pilgrim's notebook is called “Passport of Tro Breiz” or, in Breton, “Tremen-hent” . It is issued by the association Les Chemins du Tro Breiz (see address book). A stamp is placed at each stage, preferably collected from the parishes.

The pilgrim's diploma: the pilgrim can receive, after having connected the seven bishoprics, a “diploma” from the “Pèlerin du Tro Breiz”, written in French and Breton. To obtain it, contact the Les Chemins du Tro Breiz association (see address book) by presenting a validated passport.

Marking: for the moment, the marking is carried out from Quimper to Dol-de-Bretagne. The waymarks use black ermine on a white background. Sometimes a “Tro Breiz” bakelite square is added, with a red point which gives the direction. On the Petite Randonnée (PR) and Grande Randonnée (GR) trails, follow the markings specific to the French Hiking Federation.

Season : the paths are passable all year round, although the most pleasant periods for this type of trip are spring, summer, and early autumn.

Specific equipment: for general equipment, see the Equipment section. These paths can be wet and muddy. It is therefore preferable to bring high shoes and a walking stick. You also need to protect yourself against both rain and sun.

Weather report: in France, Météo-France forecasts are accessible by telephone: 3250 (0.34 euros including tax/min); by Internet: 3-day forecasts from Météo-France, with trends for the following days: http://france.meteofrance.com; via the latest generation touchscreen mobile terminals (notably iPhone terminals): ttp://mobile.meteofrance.com

Schedules: In Brittany, the usual store hours are 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., with an interruption sometimes from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Mass times: to find out the times of religious services in each parish: http://messesinfo.catholique.fr

Budget: On the paths of Tro Breiz, there are few specific lodgings for pilgrims, unlike the paths of Saint-Jacques. It is therefore necessary to plan a budget accordingly for accommodation. The cheapest solution is of course camping. For meals, the budget will depend on the solution chosen (picnic or restaurant). If you sleep in modest accommodation, plan a picnic for lunch and a hot meal in the evening (table d'hôte or restaurant), you can count on an average budget of 50 euros per day.

Refuel: Refueling rarely poses a problem, except in a few particularly isolated places (Monts d'Arrée, Landes du Méné, Landes de Lanvaux), where it is better to plan a meal in advance.

Transportation: the seven cities that can serve as a starting point can be reached either by train (Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Malo, Dol-de-Bretagne, Vannes, Quimper) or by bus (Tréguier).