Bounded by the sea and defined by its traditional character, Brittany is a beautiful region in northeastern France. Quaint fishing villages are nestled in bays along the Atlantic coastline, while the verdant countryside is dotted with picturesque medieval villages and fairytale castles. The landscape varies from peaceful moors and pristine forests to secluded sandy beaches and dramatic seaside scenery. From its rocky promontories, the craggy northern coastline offers magnificent ocean views. Brittany is also a land of myths, legends, and fascinating history. The region has a Celtic influence with a dialect related to Gaelic, and the local cuisine is delicious. Crêperies serve "galettes" (savory buckwheat crepes) and dessert crepes with toppings such as caramel, chocolate sauce, and fresh seasonal strawberries. Bretons take pride in celebrating ancient customs, such as "pardons," a special type of pilgrimage when townspeople (dressed in period costumes) ask for forgiveness for their sins and attend a special mass and festival.
1 Saint-Malo
The quintessential Breton port of Saint-Malo boasts a magnificent location on a former island near the mainland. Still surrounded by its ancient walls, Saint-Malo has retained the ambience of a medieval fortified coastal town. During the Second World War, the historic center of Saint-Malo was largely destroyed, except for the old walls, but the town was rebuilt after the war in its original style, with narrow little streets and tall granite houses. Inside the walls near the handsome Porte Saint-Vincent, is the Place Châteaubriand. The Hôtel France et Châteaubriand (now a luxury hotel) occupies the site of the house where the writer and statesman Châteaubriand was born.
Nearby the Place Châteaubriand are steps leading up to the ramparts, which date back to the 12th century. A walk around the complete circuit takes between half an hour and an hour. From the projecting bastions of the ramparts are spectacular views of the town, the estuary (with the town of Dinard on the opposite bank), the sea, and the offshore islands. The views are best at high tide. Below the west side of the ramparts is Plage de Bon Secours, a sandy beach with a sea-water pool that is well-suited for swimming (there is even a diving board). The beach also has a splendid view of the Saint-Malo Bay and the town of Dinard in the distance.
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Saint-Malo - TripAdvisor.com
2 Quimper
With its handsome half-timbered houses and pleasant squares, Quimper is a picture-postcard historic town on the banks of the Odet River. Tourists will enjoy strolling the quaint cobblestone streets and pedestrian footbridges that are decorated with potted flowers. In the center of the town is the Place Saint-Corentin, named after the first bishop of Quimper. In this square is Quimper's awe-inspiring Gothic Cathedral, the Cathédrale St. Corentin, built between the 13th and 15th centuries. One of the cathedral's noteworthy features is its richly decorated west doorway. Between the cathedral's two high towers is the legendary figure of King Gradion watching over the town. The sanctuary is illuminated by splendid stained-glass windows from the 15th century. Facing the cathedral is the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which occupies an Italian-style palace. The museum displays works by French, Italian, Flemish, and Dutch painters, as well as pictures by Max Jacob and the Impressionist painters of Pont-Aven (the École de Pont-Aven). South of the cathedral, in the former Bishop's Palace, is the Musée Départemental Breton(Breton Museum), with a collection of regional folk art.
Quimper was the capital of the Duchy of Cornouaille during the early medieval period and now is the chief town of the département of Finistère in southwestern Brittany. One of the attractions of visiting Quimper is the surrounding countryside of Cornouaille. This gorgeous and rugged landscape boasts striking rocky peninsulas and spectacular sea views. There are also many attractive seaside resorts in the area, including Tréboul and the fishing port of Douarnenez. ThePointe du Raz is the most westerly point in Brittany and offers an amazing panoramic outlook from the tip of the promontory.
3 Nantes
At the junction of the Erdre and Loire Rivers, the old Breton port of Nantes has played an important role in history. Nantes was the capital of the Duchy of Brittany during the Middle Ages, and it was here in 1598 that Henry IV signed the famous Edict of Nantes, which granted freedom of religious belief to Protestants. Thanks to its advantageous port location, Nantes became a prosperous commercial town from the 16th to the 19th century. Nantes has also been a university town since the 15th century. Today, Nantes is still a thriving center of higher education as well as France's sixth largest city.
Visitors may begin a tour of Nantes at the breathtaking Château des Ducs de Bretagne, surrounded by parkland and a medieval moat filled with water. This enormous Château Ducal was founded in the 15th century by Francois II, one of the last Breton rulers. The castle is open to the public, and visitors may explore the interior of the royal palace, the courtyard, battlements, and the Nantes History Museum that is housed in the building. The Château des Ducs also has a gift shop and a café-restaurant with outdoor patio seating that is pleasant on warm days. Access to the castle's ramparts, moat, and gardens is free. After touring the Château Ducal, visitors should continue west of the castle to the atmospheric historic quarter of Nantes known as the Bouffay district. In this medieval quarter of half-timbered houses, tourists may wander through the maze of winding streets and shop at gourmet food boutiques. In the center of Nantes is the Place Royale, a lovely 18th-century square, and nearby are the elegant thoroughfares of Rue Crébillon and Cours Cambronne.
4 Rennes
The old capital of Brittany, Rennes is still the region's economic and cultural center as well as a university town. After a fire in 1720, much of the town had to be rebuilt and more reconstruction was necessary after WWII. Rennes is now a modern city with streets laid out at right angles. Visitors can begin a walking tour at the Place de la Mairie to admire the elegant Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) built in 1734. West of the Place de la Mairie is the Eglise Saint-Sauveur, a lovely church built from the 17th to the 18th centuries. Enter the church to admire the interior and especially take note of its fine pulpit. Then continue east of the Town Hall to see the Place du Parlement de Bretagne encircled by beautiful 18th-century houses. Further northeast is the Romanesque abbey church of Notre-Dame en Saint-Melaine built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The only part of the original abbey that remains is the cloister, resplendent with its elaborately sculpted facade. Several blocks away is the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre with an interesting blend of architectural styles. The most remarkable feature of the interior is the exquisite gilded altar piece in one of the chapels. Tourists should take time to stroll the narrow cobblestone streets around the cathedral where there are perfectly preserved historic houses such as the Hôtel de Blossac at 6 Rue du Chapitre.
5 Belle-Île-en-Mer
Off the southwest coast of Brittany, Belle-Île-en-Mer is the largest of the Breton islands but is still only 17 kilometers long and ten kilometers wide. The island's name translates to "Beautiful Island in the Sea," fitting of its gorgeous natural setting. The Benedictine Abbey in Quimperlé occupied Belle-Île-en-Mer since 1029 and in the 14th century built a fort to guard against pirate invasions. In 1661, King Louis XIV became the owner of the island and between 176
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