Regional Information

Brittany

Brittany, though a compact and coherent region is indeed a land of contrasts. Wild seas buffet its jagged coastline, reshaping the ancient granite. Inland, quiet villages and eerie forests seem to disobey the laws of time. Armor, the country near the sea, compliments Argoat, the country of the wood.

Morbihan

Morbihan's visual range is just as wide: the industrial port of Lorient, and island-sprinkled inland sea, medieval towns, the sophisticated resort of La Baule and the mysterious megaliths of Carnac.
Further information about Morbihan

Cotes D’Armor

On the north coast, St-Malo, old corsairs' town is a popular resort, exuberantly mixing centuries of architectural styles. Dinard, self-proclaimed Queen of the Emerald Coast, has been compared favourably with Mediterranean resorts. To the east, Mont-St-Michel, though technically it lies a few metres across the border in Normandy, is a magnet for visitors.

To the west, the Granit Rose Coast derives its name from the attractively pink boulders and offers great seascapes, unspoilt sandy bays and quiet little resorts.

North Finistere

North Finistere is rich in parish-clos villages, with spectacularly carved calvaries and people who have, more than most Bretons, tried to preserve the old tongue and the old ways. Finistere (literally 'World's End') exudes a sense of the past, yet encompasses the startlingly modern architecture and bustling commerce of Brest.

Central Brittany

Central Brittany, often ignored, is ideal for those who like walking and wandering. Much history was made here, in the castle of Josselin and the forest of Paimpont, and Merlin is said still to conjure up rain and thunder.

As regional capitals go, Rennes is more a market town, mixing just the right touch of the present with its medieval past. Nantes, Brittany's old capital, is a bustling city with wide boulevards and elegant shops.

Conclusion

Best of all, the people of Brittany have managed to stop the demands of modern tourism spoiling the very attractions which visitors come to see. But then, with all those saints to look after their interests, what else would one expect?