BRITTANY TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist information about the individual Brittany departments of the Morbihan, Finistere, Ille-et-Vilaine and Cotes d'Armor can be found through every property details page along with tourist information about the local towns, tourist attractions and information about events happening in Brittany.
BRITTANY TOURISM
Brittany is the most western region of France, perfect for vacations near the French coast, coastal French Gites, and holiday accommodation. Come and discover why Brittany is such a popular region of France, especially with the French. Brittany is rugged, Brittany is breathtaking, Brittany is one the most beautiful French regions. Thatched little French owned Gites clinging to craggy outcrops on the Brittany coast. Holiday homes dotted along the North Brittany cliffs and over looking the south and west Brittany beaches. Holiday cottages of all descriptions nestling in deep valleys and rolling meadows. Little wonder that Brittany is such a well loved holiday destination for the French and lovers of France. If you are looking for holiday cottages in France, Brittany is on the doorsteps of the French ports of St Malo and Roscoff.
Brittany is the home of French seafood cuisine. Visit the thousands of little bays and inlets that surround the coast of Brittany and return to your holiday cottage at the end of the day to enjoy a simple meal of French oysters and regional French cheeses. What else could you want from a vacation in France?
Rent a modest Gite or holiday home, soak up the French sunshine, delight in the local wines and sample the local French cuisine.
The Bretons are staunchly proud and protective of their culture and traditions. Their traditional costume, includes a tall lace headdress for women, one of the region's trademarks and the area's rich maritime traditions are evident in the fishing ports that are dotted around the coastline. It's these qualities that make a visit to Brittany so enchanting. This, and the fact that Bretons are a hugely hospitable race, with a diverse countryside and a cuisine to match.
Protruding into the sea on the north-western edge of France, Brittany and the department of Finistere is the most westerly point in Europe. Being exposed to the Atlantic winds, has a drama that justifies the name "Finistere", - the end of the earth. Its warm summers are thanks in part to the influence of the Gulf Stream. Breton-Philes agree that there are actually two Brittanys. One the 1200km-long coast, known as Armor (meaning 'Land of the Sea') and the other its more secretive interior, Argoat ('Land of the Woods').
This Northwest corner of France has long been culturally and geographically distinct from the rest of France. The Celts called this part of France, "Armorica", land of the sea and Brittany's past is laced with the legends of cities lost beneath the sea and Arthurian forests. Magnificent beaches line its northern shore, swept clean by giant rip tides and interspersed with fashionable seaside resorts and pretty fishing ports. A long, jagged coastline is the region's great attraction. Along the Atlantic coastline are lighthouses and sandy beaches, holiday villas, rugged cliffs and picturesque harbours often filled with fishermen landing their catches. Oysters, crabs and stingray are among the local delicacies, best washed down with Breton cider. The south coast is more gentle, with wooded river valleys and a milder climate.
Many of the region's islands are protected areas for sea birds and the departments work hard to preserve these natural nature reserves. Others, like the rugged Île d'Ouessant, are accessible to visitors. Traditionally dependent on the stormy seas for their livelihood and food, old women here still make lace crosses in memory of the husbands who never returned from sea. Do try the local speciality, 'ragoût de mouton' (mutton baked for five hours under a layer of roots and herbs).
Inland lies l' Argoat - once heavily forested but now a patchwork of undulating fields, woods and rolling moor land. Parc Regional d'Armorique occupies much of central Finistere, and it is in western Brittany that Breton culture remains most evident. Brittany is a popular holiday area and deservedly so, with excellent beaches and attractive countryside, ancient sites and an emphasis on Celtic history and culture. Prehistoric megaliths arise mysteriously from land and sea, and medieval legends are never far from the present. From its sandy beaches and islands to the walled cities of St-Malo and St-Servan, or the forest of Paimpont with its myths and King Arthur legends, Brittany has a wealth of interesting places to explore.
In the Pays Bigouden and in Quimper, crepes and cider, traditional costumes and Celtic music are still part of the Breton tradition. Vannes, Rennes the Breton capital and Dinan have well preserved medieval quarters where half-timbered buildings protect colourful markets, shops, creperies, bars and restaurants.
In northern Brittany the Cote d'Emeraude has infinite sandy beaches and inviting resorts which give way as you head westwards to the wilder Cote de Granite Rose where private coves, cliffs and caves dot the coastline. Further west is Brittany's land's end, Finistere, with spectacular cliffs and small villages. Brittany's south coast is less wild, warmer and blessed with miles of safe sandy beaches. Inland the country rises to open rocky ground cut deeply by numerous small wooded valleys. Sailing and windsurfing are popular here and scuba diving around the rocky archipelagos is among the best in France. It is here that the region's two main cities of Brest and Quimper are found, the latter a cultural hub (it is sometimes called the 'soul of Brittany'). The walled port of St-Malo on the Cote d'Emeraude recalls the region's maritime prowess, while the remarkably intact castles at Fougeres and Vitre are a reminder of the mighty border-fortresses that protected Brittany's eastern frontier before its final union with France in 1532.
The town of Vitré has best preserved its medieval appearance with its old wooden porches with rough carvings. It has slate houses with gables and narrow windows overlooking the streets. Its long streets and houses with heavy doors decorated with quotations from the Bible all add to it's character. Vitré is the town of the Rohans and La Trémoilles, the cradle of the Reformation in Brittany. This sample of Vitré's medieval houses shows the diversity and wealth of the town's architecture. The carved, painted decoration is particularly ornate and completed by lead finials, a technique in which the people of Vitré excelled. In order to have adequate living space in a town where land was in short supply and expensive, the upper storeys were built hanging out over the ground floors. Most houses consist of stone-built sidewalls and timbered frontages. The timbering was whitewashed on more modest dwellings and painted on others, using red or yellow ochre, blues and greens. An annual celebration of the Celtic culture, the Festival de Cornouaille, is held in late July.
Fougeres overlooks a vast lush green countryside and has retained all of the grandeur of it's glorious past. The Chateau is open every day through mid June to mid September and at various times during the year. Built between the 12th and 15th Century it was an outpost of medieval Brittany and even one of the biggest and best preserved fortifications in Europe. Breton is still spoken in these parts, with a strong movement to protect their mother tongue and like other Celtic languages it is related to Cornish and Welsh. Once diminishing, the native local tongue is still spoken here and many schools now teach Breton as a second lanaguage. Fougeres old town still contains the wooden buildings that housed thousands of workers who crafted shoes. The shoe industry is slowly returning but now specialises in the upper end of the market.
The port of Saint Malo and the magnificent Mont-Saint-Michel on the Brittany/ Normandy border cap Eastern Brittany. Driving down from the magnificent coastline, the picturesque countryside reveals colourful market towns, sleepy villages and thriving communities. Away from the coasts, the Argoat is an unspoiled and largely agricultural area. Villages characterised by cottages made of granite with slate roofs, farmhouses and gites dot the landscape and paths lead to ruined castles and farms built in pink, grey or black local stone.
Just over the Brittany border in Normandy stands Mont Saint Michel, a tourist trap over spilling with cafes, bars and superb craft shops. In the 11th century, it was once a small chapel, built on top of a rock, which had already become a major place of pilgrimage. Over the centuries, the tiny chapel transformed into a magnificent Benedictine abbey, commonly known as the 'Merveille' or 'Wonder', with its glorious Gothic buildings. Within the abbey are the Cellier, the Salle des Chevaliers (knights' hall), the Refectoire (refectory), the Aumônerie (chaplaincy), and the Salle des Hôtes (guests' hall), all of which have welcomed Saint Louis, Louis XI, and Francois I. A cloister with beautifully carved columns seems to be suspended between sea and sky. The views are spectacular both from the ramparts and from out across the bay. Mont Saint Michel Bay has the highest tides in Europe. As the tide ebbs the sea reveals one of the largest areas of mussel and oyster farming in France.
Dol de Bretagne, with it's half timbered houses, cobbled streets and mansions. Dol-de-Bretagne is am essential stop off for all visitors . The Grande Rue des Stuarts is the main shopping area. Market day is Saturday. Plenty of places to dine during the day and evening. The Cathedral of Saint Samson in Dol de Bretagne includes a mixture of architectural, styles running from Romanesque to Gothic. Dol de Bretange became one of Brittany's first bishoprics in the 6th Century. The Cathedraloscope that opened in 1999 makes the town even more attractive as it is the first discovery centre dedicated to Cathedrals.
You must see the mysterious standing stones over - 3000 of these monliths, which pepper the area around Carnac. A legacy of the Megalithic tribes who once inhabited the land. Lovers of myth and folklore can trace the legends of King Arthur, Lancelot du Lac and Merlin the Magician in the forest of Paimpont, about 40km south west of Rennes. It was here that the young Arthur supposedly received the sword Excalibur from the fairy Vivian, the mysterious Lady of the Lake and later Merlin's mistress. Visitors still come here in search of the spring of eternal youth where the magician first met his mistress. Let me know if you find it ..
The Medieval town of Dinan is also worth a visit, especially if you happen to be there in late September when its Medieval festival, the spectacular Fête des Remparts, attracts 40,000 visitors for two days of 15th century celebrations. You don't even have to worry about finding somewhere to stay as Farmhouses, cottages and gites abound.
St Malo is perfect for those of you into some serious retail therapy. The town abounds with hypermarkets galore. Concealed behind the city walls is a thriving metropolis, with everything, those of you with withdrawal symptoms from the hustle and bustle of a busy working life need for that instant adrenaline rush. The coastline bristles with forts and beautiful sandy beaches. Luckily St Malos impressive ramparts escaped damage during the Second World War and gates, such as the Porte de Saint-Pierre which leads to Bon Secours beach still stand. Off the coast lies Grand Bé Island, where Chateaubriand is buried.
