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Brittany is a land rich in contrasts, steeped in
history and tradition and proud of its strong
maritime culture. A favoured holiday destination for
the French and Brits, it’s 600 km of fine, sandy
coastline curves around the north western tip of
France, enclosing 27,500 sq. km of fertile
countryside and quaint market towns. |
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The Breton people are hardy,
down to earth and friendly. They remain close to the land,
the sea and their culture. Breton is still spoken in a few
areas and local traditions are upheld at the many lively
festivals and fest noz of the summer months.
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Known by the Celts as Armorica, “land of the
sea”, Brittany has a long and lively past.
Prehistoric megaliths (standing stones) rise up from
the ground around Carnac (in the South) and it is
said that young King Arthur received the sword of
Excalibur from the fairy Vivian in the Paimpont
Forest (near Rennes. Half-timbered buildings
characterize the bustling, medieval towns of Vannes,
Dinan and Rennes, while the castles and fortresses
of St. Malo, Fougères and Vitré bear witness to
Brittany’s strategic location. The region’s beauty
has attracted many artists and the lovely town of
Pont-Aven is lined with galleries showing works of
painters past and present. |
From
cornfield to oyster bed, woodland walk to long sandy beach,
modern shipping port to charming, historical town, there is
something for everyone in this varied and dynamic region.
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Rennes, situated in
Ille-et-Villaine, has been Brittany’s capital since
the 16th century. Home to the Breton houses of
parliament, it is a hive of cultural activity,
nurtured by the large student population. The
Côtes-d'Armor on the northern shore is lined with
seaside resorts, pink granite coves and traditional
fishing ports. Morbihan, on the southerncoast is |
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backed by wooded river valleys and has a gentler feel and a
milder climate. Exposed to the rough Atlantic winds,
Finistère in the west has drama. The name aptly means “the
end of the earth”.
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The region is known for its
excellent seafood, sweet crepes and savoury
buckwheat pancakes, cider, “galettes” biscuits and
buttery Kouign Amman cake. It offers a wide variety
of sports including sailing, windsurfing, fishing,
golf, hiking, mountain biking and horse riding. |
Brittany is a land of spirit
and character where history, art, culture and nature live
side by side with all today's modern services. Shopping is
always close by and plentiful. Travelling is fast and easy -
Paris is only 2 hours by train from Rennes, ferries run from
two ports to the UK and there is a very good network of free
dual carriageways.
To find out more about the Brittany region visit:
Brittany Tourism board web site
Official
website of the French Government Tourist Office
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In
this 9-page article, Francis Pearce concludes in
tour of Brittany in Finistère. |
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