Brittany is a land of sailors. Its thousands of kilometers of beach, from Cancale to Saint-Nazaire, give it a tremendous variety of landscapes, from the exotic rocks on the Granite Rose coast, to the idyllic beaches on the Morbihan. Not to mention the islands and the islets: Bréhat, Batz, Ouessant, Belle-Ile, all transport the visitor back in time.
 The fortified city of Saint-Malo offers its ramparts to strollers. One can’t help but be charmed by the high abodes of the old town, magnificently reconstructed after the war. Concarneau, a stronghold of the 14th century, long ago traded its drawbridge for fixed bridges. There is no longer anything but the ramparts, the sealed-off town, and an ambiance of fishing that brings the taste of the water to the mouth through the famous local seafood.
 The interior of the region is the other aspect of Brittany; that which evokes Lancelot and his quest for the Grail, the forest of Brocéliande, and the lands covered in heather. The myths and legends are still alive today, inspired by a nature with an austere charm, where man has carved a mystery. Such is the case with the monoliths and dolmens of Carnac, a heritage of which the Bretons are proud, just as they are of their language and their traditions.
As for the gastronomic traditions of Brittany, one must not forget crêpes or galettes, which you'll taste throughout the region and even beyond.
Not to be Missed
· La Pointe du Raz, swept by winds, is situated at the extreme west of the pointe du Finistère.
· The peninsula of Crozon, characterized by its rugged coasts and its cliffs
· The Rose Granite Coast and its charming little ports: Perros-Guirec, Pleumeur-Bodou, Trébeurden, Trégastel.
· The Emerald Coast: the “pirate town” of Saint-Malo, Dinard, Dinan…
· The Gulf of Morbihan: a tiny interior ocean scattered with islands and hospitable beaches
· The parish enclosures: at Lampaul-Guimiliau in Finistère, the cathedral of Tréguier on the cotes d’Armor…
· The Brocéliande Forest, the legendary forest of King Arthur
· The Arée mountains, at the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Armor, the highest “summits” in Brittany
· Carnac: an impressive megalithic site, featuring erect stone formations
· The islands: Belle Ile en Mer, near Quiberon, the archipelago of Glénan, at the entrance of the Bay of Concarneau and its famous navigation school, the Island of Bréhat and its mild climate…
Brittany and its Islands
 When vacationing in Brittany, one must take a boat to visit or stay on one of its islands. And there are many to choose from! Belle Isle is the biggest of all of them. It has two faces: the “inner” coast (which faces mainland France) is low and gentle, while the “outer” coast (facing the ocean) is jagged and wild. In the interior of the island, a multitude of small valleys shelter villages of white houses with vibrantly colored shutters.
The island of Batz is an immense garden 3km from Roscoff. Of course the men go to sea, but they do so to bring back kelp. Batz is the island of tractors. The mysteries of its microclimate make its vegetables ripen one month before those in other places.
The Glénan islands: A few miles away is a paradise of sandy tongues and rocks bathed in incredibly clear waters. Thanks to its transparency, the water takes on turquoise, blue-green, or violet hues depending on its depth.
The island of Bréhat: Like its cousin, the island of Batz, Bréhat is separated from the continent only by an arm of water. The trip does not take more than a quarter of an hour and yet it takes you to another place – the change of scenery is not measured by the duration of the voyage. Starting in January, mimosas and camellias bloom, and in autumn the fig and the kiwi trees are covered in fruit. The vegetation and the light make this a dream port of call for artists, regardless of the season. Here there are no cars; everyone gets around on foot or by bicycle.
Rennes
Rennes, the capital of Brittany, is a metropolis of art and history. Rennes is a necessary stop for better understanding the Breton reality of yesterday and today.
Don’t Miss
- The 17th-century Parliament of Brittany and the 18th-century Hotel de Ville
- The old Gallo-Roman town
- The 18th-century town and its two royal squares
- The Place des Lices and its Saturday market
- The Thabor and Oberthür parks
- The Saint Yves chapel
- The Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Art)
- Les transmusicales de Rennes (a music festival held each December)
Click here for more festivals and events in France
|