Places to visit in Brittany
Côtes d’Armor – Department 22
Côte du Granit Rose • Located in the Cotes d’Armor department of Brittany. The Côte de Granit Rose (pink granite coast) stretches for more than thirty kilometres from Plestin-les-Greves to Louannec and is one of the most outstanding coastlines in Europe. This special pink rock is very rare and can only be found in two other places in the world, Corsica and China.
Dinan • The citadel here has been perfectly preserved and it is a beautiful and sedate place to visit that is not overrun by tourists. There isn’t that much to see or do here of any significance, but it is a peaceful and relaxed place to visit for dinner – it has some great restaurants – if you’re touring around the region. The wonderful walled medieval city of Dinan, just 25km south of Dinard, which, like Vitre, has managed to preserve many of its charms intact. Stroll along the ramparts, or down its cobbled streets with their exquisite 15th-century timber-frame houses. Every other July the city hosts a famous Fete des Ramparts, when locals don medieval garb.
Île de Bréhat • is an island located near Paimpol, a mile off the northern coast of Bretagne. Bréhat is actually an archipelago composed of two main islands, separated only at high tide, and many smaller ones. It is famous for its pink granite rocks, very mild micro-climate and Mediterranean vegetation, due to the warm Gulf Stream coming from across the Atlantic. Many day-trippers come to Brehat every day by the ferry service (les Vedettes de Bréhat) and visit the main tourist attractions, the Paon & Rosedo lighthouses, the St-Michel chapel, the Guerzido beach, the Birlot water-mill and the Verrerie of Bréhat..
Finistère – Department 29
Brest • Apart from its 15th Century castle and a couple of museums, Brest is famous today for being the home of Oceanopolis – the largest aquarium in Europe. It is a great place to visit, especially if you have children as it houses every species of fish, mollusc, sea anemone etc that you can think of within a modern and futuristic dome, complete with 3D cinema.
Douarnenez • Situated on a magnificent bay and renowned for its good beaches, it has, since 1993, been home to one of the most unique floating exhibitions in Europe – the boat museum at Port-Rhu. Anyone who likes boats will love this place and children have a wonderful time scrambling over wooden boats from all over the world, which would have perished but for the dedication of boat lovers who rescued and restored them.
Île d’Ouessant • is a rocky island, Finistère département, off the western tip of Bretagne, western France. The island, about 5 miles (8 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide, has an area of 6 square miles (15 square km). Its lighthouse, the Phare de Créac’h, marks the southern entrance to the English Channel, the northern entrance light being at Land’s End, Cornwall, England. Lampaul, a small port that is the capital of Ouessant, is the chief settlement of the island’s fishermen; its fields, which cover only a fraction of the island, traditionally have been worked by the fishermen’s wives. Today both fishing and agriculture (sheep grazing) are relatively unimportant, as tourism has become the main economic activity of the islanders. A large but indecisive naval action was fought off Ouessant in July 1778 between British and French fleets.
Le Conquet • Le Conquet: situated on the western tip of Brittany, Le Conquet has an amazing long strip of beach that is very quiet and an ideal place to visit, it does however flood at high tide. Otherwise, this is a sleepy fishing village with some nice cafes and a Benedictine abbey.
Morlaix • Morlaix: this is a fabulous old Breton port built on a steep hill; its Jacobin convent was famously visited by Mary Queen of Scots.
Pointe du Raz • The Pointe du Raz is a promontory that extends into the Atlantic from western Brittany, in France. The local Breton name is Beg ar Raz. It is the western point of the commune of Plogoff, Finistère. It is named after the Raz de Sein, the dangerous stretch of water between it and the island of Sein (Enez Sun in Breton). It is a dramatic place of crashing waves and strong winds. Although it is not quite the westernmost extent of France (that would be Pointe de Corsen, just to the north), its rocky isolation makes it a popular tourist destination, (comparable in some ways to Land’s End in Cornwall).
Pont Aven • The picturesque river port of Pont-Aven, which once had 14 working mills, is best known for its associations with the vibrant art of Paul Gauguin. You can see his painting Le Sabotier in the local museum, and there are countless small galleries if you want to buy.
Quimper • Quimper: is the oldest city within Brittany and has a huge impressive cathedral – Cathedrale St Correntin. It is a great place to shop as it has lots of unique little stores and a new marketplace Halles St Francis that is renowned for its food stalls. Crèpes and cider, traditional costumes and Celtic music are still a genuine part of the Breton lifestyle here.
Locronan • Locronan is a small town built at the foot of a hill, and was granted town status in 1505 by Anne of Brittany, who went there on a pilgrimage. Since the 15th century, hemp has been blossoming in Locronan’s surroundings. This led to a hemp industry in the town at the time, making the town quite prosperous. Locronan’s hemp used to be shipped around the world, and was also vital for rigging the shipping, both commercial and military, that operated from Brittany’s many ports. It was at this time that the Saint Ronan church was built as well as the small chapel of Penity. Locronan has been credited with being one of the most beautiful villages in France by an independent association aiming to promote tourism into rural France.
Roscoff • Roscoff: is one of the main towns on the Finistere (Land’s End) coast, and even though it is a quiet port (it has a ferry service from Plymouth and Cork) it has a fine harbour and lots of 16th Century buildings and squares. This port is a gateway to the abers (deep narrow estuaries) and jagged western coast of Brittany that is full of small, isolated beaches and coves. It has several campsites and it is a great trip along the coast towards Brest from Roscoff, stopping off at the abers and coves.
Ille et Vilaine – Department 35
Cancale • Cancale lies along the coast to the east of Saint-Malo. It is a picturesque fishing village popular with visitors, many of whom are drawn by its reputation as the “oyster capital” of Brittany. Though a small town, it is well served by a large number of restaurants, many specialising in seafood. When not eating one can sit and watch the bustle of this busy little town with many stalls selling crustaceans of all types. There is a pleasant coastal path which permits a circular walk from the town to the Pointe du Grouin with views across the bay towards Mont Saint Michel.
Dinard • 20 minutes drive away from St Malo, is where you should visit if you want a taste of Breton elegance. The seafront is crowed with Victorian villas, which you don’t expect at a famous beach resort – it hasn’t gone down the tacky route at all, even though it does have a casino. Incongruously, there is a statue of Alfred Hitchcock in the main square, perched on an egg.
Rennes • The capital city of Brittany and is a good place to stop off for a taste of city life. It has a medieval quarter bordered by the canal; lots of bars, restaurants and clubs; two great museums (Musee de Bretagne which is devoted to Breton history and culture and the Musee de Beaux Arts which houses work by Leonardo di Vinci and Botticelli); and a great festival – the Festival des Tombees de la Nuit – which takes place in July (1-10th) and takes over the entire city with Breton culture, music, food, film and street theatre.
St Malo • The most visited place in Brittany has a ferry terminal with connections for the whole region, but the actual town is an old citadel (dating back to the 17th Century) that has been rebuilt stone by stone since it was destroyed near the end of WW2. In summer the crowds through the old streets can be overbearing, but if you do get the chance visit the Musee de la Ville in the castle it gives a great, if compact, history of the town. Also walk along the corniche to St Servan, which was the original settlement here in the 6th Century. The home of great seafarers, St. Malo, neatly contained within its grey stone walls constructed at the end of the 17th century to plans by the great military architect Vauban. A walk along the circuit of the ramparts – around 2kms – makes a lovely introduction to Brittany if you’ve just arrived by ferry.
Morbihan – Department 56
Carnac • Carnac’s mysterious menhirs, the most important prehistoric site in Europe. Its 3,000 megaliths, apparently erected between 5000 and 3500 BC, set the tone for a region steeped in legend, Less famous but equally intriguing are the burial mounds on the island of Gavrinis, in the gulf of Morbihan, and at Bernenez near Morlaix in the north.
Josselin • A visit to this Petites Cites Caractere is a must, the 14th century Chateau overlooks and dominates the canal in Josselin, there are guided tours of the chateau which also houses a Musee des Poupees (doll museum). The old suburb of Josselin dating from the 16th century, contains many wooden framed houses and stone built houses of character. Take a slow stroll along the canal to build up an appetite before lunch at one of the many restaurants.
La Gacilly • A picturesque ville fleurie with a stunning weir, an abundance of flowers decorate this village in summer, in June do not miss the flower festival and carnival which terminates at the small port. At the port, one can hire a small day boat and cruise along the river. Quaint cobbled streets house about 25 local artisans and artists from glass blowing to painting on leaves! The town also has a grand photo festival in the streets throughout the summer! There is a selection of Creperies and Restaurants for the gastronomic, La Gacilly is also home to Yves Rocher the perfume and make up people, incidentally Yves Rocher himself is mayor of this town and has been for many years!
Vannes • Situated on the Gulf of Morbihan, about 1 hours drive from Josselin, this has all the features of a city as well as a fishing and pleasure port, a grand castle and abundance of cafes and bars. Take a walk along the cobbled streets with interesting boutiques abound, and stumble upon a restaurant or creperie at lunch time before spending the afternoon at the Jardin de Papillons (Butterfly Park) and/or the fascinating Aquarium within easy reach of the city centre! Or take one of the several boat trips around the Gulf of Morbihan perhaps stopping at one or two of the islands.
