Impossible to mention Pont-Aven without talking about its traditionnal delicacies and its famous biscuit factories! The Galettes de Pont-Aven are part of the culinary heritage from the XVIIth century. Traou Mad, the Penven factory and the Biscuiterie de Pont-Aven, the three biscuit factories of the City of painters are open to the public: a great opportunity to discover exquisite breton flavours!
Way before the arrival of painters in Pont-Aven, the city was already famous for its remarquable concentration of mills. The grain processing progressively evolved into manufacturing of delicacies: the Galettes de Pont-Aven. Originally run by local bakers, the activity was later carried out by Isidore Penven in 1890 and Traou Mad in 1920.
Instantly recognizable for their delicacy and their fantastic taste of salted butter, the palets and galettes of Pont-Aven are part of the culinary heritage of the city since 1890.
The stem of the Aven is frequently interrupted by big granit blocks forming some kind of natural dams along the river. Until the beginning of the XXth centuty, they made Pont-Aven an ideal place for millers to settle their activities.
Isidore Penven succeeded to his father at the head of the family bakery (nowadays the Boulangerie Kéraval). Isidore prematurely died in 1914 and his widow took over his activity. She moved in 1920 with her new husband Alexis Le Villain to the house of the alleyway Rosmadec (nowadays Courtin’s shop).
The couple decided to make galettes their main activity: they built an oven and created their trademark “Les Galettes de Pont-Aven” and “Traou Mad”. This is how were created the brands “Isidore Penven” and “Traou Mad” (“good things” in breton).
Stores in the city centre of Pont-Aven
Shops in the center of Pont-Aven
The famous storefront of Traou Mad illustrated with a painting by Gauguin: “La rondes des petites bretonnes”
Strapping of Palets Bretons
In 1924 Robert Penven, the 17 year-old son of Isidore, decided to work together with his mother and step-father and moved the manufacture to the rue du Port. After the death of Alexis Le Villain in 1945, Robert Penven took over the head of the company until 1952, when Francine and her three daughters, together with Roger Belin founded the Cie Le Villain and registered the trademark “Traou Mad”, already used since 1920. In 1952, Robert Penven decided to create his own factory, “Les Délices de Pont-Aven”, located on the wharf Théodore Botrel.
Growing in size, the two factories moved to the small industrial area of Kergazuel in 1974.
Since 2004 a third manufacturer, the Atelier de la Galette, also makes biscuits according to the old tradition in a workshop open to the public and located in the very centre of Pont-Aven.
Thanks to the famous galettes, Pont-Aven is now labelled “Remarkable Taste Site”.
If you wish to discover the breton gastronomy, come and visit our factories! The Biscuiterie de Pont-Aven, the Atelier de la Galette, Traou Mad or Isidore Penven will delight young and old with their free visits and tastings!
Located in the centre of the City of painters in a pretty dwelling from the XIXth century, the Biscuiterie de Pont-Aven is open all year long, including Sundays and holidays. Discover the manufacturing of galettes, palets or other breton pastries from Monday to Saturday, and from 10 to 12 and 14 to 16:30.
The biscuit factory Penven is located in the small industrial area of Kergazuel and offers free guided tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 AM, in July and August . Discover a family company which perpetuates the tradition with their delicious (salted!) butter-based delicacies. Groups are welcomed all year round, upon reservation. The store is located in the very center of Pont-Aven and is the ideal place for a gourmet break!
The biscuit factory Traou Mad, neighbouring the Penven factory in Kergazuel opens its doors to tell you the story of the company with a small introduction movie. Discover this little world every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10, 11:30, 14 and 15:30 in July and August, by reservation. Groups are welcomed all year upon reservation. The store in the centre of Pont-Aven remains open all year long to gourmets!
