Brittany is a deservedly popular holiday area with excellent beaches and
attractive countryside, ancient sites and an emphasis on Celtic history and culture.
In northern Brittany the Cote d'Emeraude has many fine sandy beaches and family
resorts which give way as you head westwards to the wilder Cote de Granite Rose
- coves, cliffs and caves. Further west still 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 high open rocky ground cut deeply by many small wooded valleys.
Activities in Brittany:
Cycling, walking and all the things you do when holidaying by the sea. Walking,
canoeing and barges on the Nantes-Brest canal.
Special attractions in Brittany:
Abbaye de Beauport- large ruined Norman abbey nr. Paimpol; the many islands;
the salt marshes of la Briere; standing stones at Carnac and various other megaliths
on the mainland and islands; Celtic churches; aquariums at Vannes and Brest (Oceanopolis).
Towns and places of interest in Brittany:
Carnac. Pleasant tree-lined town with good beaches and close to the famous
stones.
Concarneau. Flower-filled town with its old section on a rocky island jutting
out into the water.
Dinan. Walled medieval town.
Dinard. Well-off seaside resort with good beach, coastal walks.
Fougeres. An eastern gateway to Brittany, on a hillside cut by steep lanes
and steps, it is known for its castle but is also close to an airy beech forest
containing Dolmens.
La Baule. Upmarket busy resort with huge sandy beach.
Lorient. Somewhat un-inspiring port but site of huge Inter-Celtic festival
in August.
Locronan. Preserved medieval village, very touristy, selling local and other
French crafts.
Morlaix. A pleasant town en route to or from Roscoff.
Nantes. Large town on the Loire and divided into several distinct quarters
with a variety of restaurants
Pont-Aven. Pretty port famous for its school of artists based around Gaugin
who painted here at the end of the 19th century.
Quiberon. Smart port with good shops, cafes and beach.
Quimper. Old Breton town with cobbled streets, cathedral, cafes, riverside
area and bridges, excellent art museum. Breton festival in July and classical music
festival in August.
Rennes. Capital city of Brittany, elegant, modern feeling and with some night-life
and two big music festivals including a rock festival in December. A small attractive
medieval quarter. There is a new Metro system. Apparently it's the smallest
town to have a Metro. There is only one line, but it saves some walking and it's
very nice to travel on. Rennes is 30 kms from the Foret de Paimport which is a site
of Arthurian legend and has good walks.
Roscoff. Small harbour town with ferryport and surrounding beaches.
St. Malo. Probably the most beautiful of the channel ferryports with its
citadelle, ramparts, narrow streets, busy harbour, restaurants and nearby hypermarket.
Boat trips along the coast and to the Channel Islands.
Vannes. Historic old town, big enough for some night-life, with a large Aquarium.
Vitre. Old walled market town with attractive half-timbered houses.
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