Description:

Loudeac first became known in the 11th century for its many fairs and markets.  Today Loudeac is a busy pretty market town with lots of medieval streets filled with traditional buildings.

Loudeac is in the department of Cotes d'Armor in central Brittany and covers an area of 80.24 km².  The town is one of the 21 cantons of Saint Brieuc.

To the North East of the town stands the large 2,500 hectare Foret de Loudeac which was part of the Broceliande forest which stretched across ancient Brittany.

There is a market in the centre of Loudeac every Saturday morning.  During July and August there is a summer market every Wednesday evening from 5pm at the Place des Halles. 

Loudeac also has several grocery stores, bakeries and butchers, a tabac, a bookstore, a hardware store, two wine caves and two fishmongers.   For all other groceries there is a Carrefour, L'Eclerc, Lidl and Aldi supermarket in the town.

The town has a good range of clothes and shoes shops.  For larger chains visit Pontivy which is only 19 km away.

Loudeac has three Ecoles Primaires et Maternelles, three Colleges and two Lycees.

The town has a central post office and a wide range of hair salons, garages, vets, town library, opticians, banks and pharmacies.

Loudeac also has over eight doctors, three dentists, an Ophthalmologist and a good hospital.

For entertainment the town has a good selection of restaurant, creperie and cafes.  There is also a cinema and a popular swimming pool complete with waterslide and bubble lagoon.

Loudeac has four hotels within the town as well.  There are also lots of campsites, Chambre d’Hotes and Gites available in the area.

Loudeac is most known for its many events that are held throughout the year.

Since 1914 on each of the four Sundays before Easter, Loudeac's Palais des Congres et de la Culture is home to La Passion de Loudeac.  The Palais is transformed into a reconstruction of the Holy City of Jerusalem which acts as the backdrop for a theatrical interpretation of the life of Christ.  This 3 hour production involves over 250 amateur actors and the audience typically comes from all over France.

Between March and May a series of five 'Easter' race meetings are held at the Calouet Hippodrome attracting race fans from all over western France.

Loudeac celebrates horses in August during La Fete Du Cheval, Festival of the Horse, during which 200 horses and carriages parade alongside brass bands through the streets of the town before meeting at the local Kerderve showground.

During August Loudeac also acts as an important leg of the Paris Brest Paris Cycle race - during the race out it is the one third point and on the way back is the two thirds point.  During this time the town comes alive with entertainment.

Loudeac is great for sports and activities featuring over 30 different sports and 40 different associations.

The town has some fantastic facilities for football, handball, gymnastics, swimming, roller hockey, horseriding, town Stadium, gymnasium, tennis, a climbing wall, a velodrome and a hippodrome.

The Foret de Loudeac, on the outskirts of the town, has over 30 miles of well marked out footpaths allowing walkers and cyclists to explore the many protected plants and wildlife.

Loudeac also has a Maison de la Peche which is a 16 hectare discovery site featuring ponds, the town campsites, play areas and many sporting facilities such as tennis, golf, bowling and volleyball.