Things to do in Brittany, France

Brittany occupies a large peninsula on the West coast of France. It is bordered almost entirely by the Atlantic Ocean, with the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. The Western Loire makes up most of the Eastern border, while Normandy is located to the Northeast. The region is known for thousands of kilometres of jagged coastline, calvaries and megalithic monuments, crepes, and seafood.

Ferry links at Roscoff and Saint-Malo, as well as ports in Normandy, have made the area fashionable with British holiday-makers and those searching for a second home. It's also a very popular holiday destination for the French, and in the summer months the beaches and coastal towns are filled with tourists. Brittany's most popular summer resorts are on the south coast (La Baule, Belle Ile, Gulf of Morbihan), although ruggedness of the north coast also attracts tourists.

Food and Drink

An undisputedly delicious part of Brittany's culinary heritage, "crepes" and "galettes" are well known throughout the country and beyond. These wide, thin pancakes are made either with buckwheat flour (galettes) or wheat flour (crepes), and are filled with a variety of ingredients: the most common filling for crepes is butter and sugar, while if you're looking for something a little more substantial, galettes are traditionally served with sausage or ham, cheese and eggs. Other pastries, such as Kouign Amann (butter cake), far (similar to a sweet Yorkshire pudding), or clafoutis with prunes, are also traditionally found in the region.

As a region bordered by the sea, Brittany is well known for a range of fresh sea food and fish, especially mussels, oysters and langoustine. Among the sea food specialties is cotriade, a stew made with different kinds of fish, as well as potatoes. It is traditionally served by pouring it over toasted French bread. Venturing inland, the principal crops of the region include strawberries, artichokes and cauliflowers.

Although some white wine is produced near the Loire, the traditional drinks of Brittany are cider, chouchen (mead made from wild honey), and lambig (an apple eau de vie).

Things to Do

In Brittany, nature lovers can find almost anything they might be looking for. There are rugged cliffs dotted with lighthouses, warm white-sand beaches, islands and islets, and picturesque harbours. The islands of Sept Iles, located between Trestraou and Ploumanac'h, comprise the largest bird sanctuary in France.

The Cote de Granit Rose, along the northern coast, gets its name from the miles of pink granite rocks lining the coastline, which have been eroded into strange and beautiful formations over the years. When it reaches Finistere (meaning "the end of the earth"), this amazing coastline gives way to jagged reefs featuring abers, a series of rugged fjord-like inlets.

Rennes, situated in Ille-et-Villaine, has been Brittany's capital since the 16th century, and is home to the Breton houses of parliament. A centre of cultural activity, nurtured by the large student population, Rennes invests heavily in the arts; a number of its festivals, including the music festival Les Transmusicales, les Tombees de la Nuit and Travelling, are known throughout France. Traditional timber frame houses can be seen throughout the city's historical district, and the magnificent Parc Thabor, built on 10 hectares of land, is a must-see for visitors.

The title of "Villes d'Art et d'Histoire de Bretagne" denotes towns of special artistic and historic interest. These towns have agreed to promote each town as a distinctive tourist destination. These towns include: Saint-Malo, Rennes, Nantes, Vannes, and Quimper.

With such an extensive coastline, it is unsurprising that many of the activities in Brittany are based around the sea. Fans of scuba diving can visit one of Brittany's diving centres awarded the "Plongee Label Bretagne" (Breton Diving Label). These centres, located along the length of the coast, offer introductory diving sessions, a variety of photography and ecology courses, and wreck diving. Cap Frehel, Dossen, Petit Minou, Palue, Torche, Guidel, and the Presqu'ile de Quiberon are home to sports centres, open throughout the year for surfing, wind surfing, long boarding, body boarding, skim boarding, and body surfing.

Sailing, canoeing, and kayaking are also popular activities, and can take you from the coast to inland rivers, lakes, and canals. Those searching for something a little bit different can try sand yachting or speed sailing, sailing sports which take place on the beach instead of in the water.

Brittany also caters to a variety of other activities, including hiking, cycling (with more than 70 circuits), golf (featuring over 10 courses), and horseback riding (with more than 2,000km of paths). Major cities in Brittany, in addition, to Rennes are: Saint-Brieuc, Quimper, Brest, Vannes, and Lorient.

Places to stay

Use our holiday search form to find a beautiful holiday home.

An example of holiday properties in Brittany:

Holiday home for rent in the Brittany. Gites de Lenvos is situated in the Blavet Valley just 5 minutes from the chateau town of Pontivy with its golf course, numerous restaurants and cosmopolitan cuisine. It is superbly situated to enjoy the beauty and culture of central Brittany yet within easy reach of the southern coast. Lake Guerledan with its beaches and watersports is only 10 minutes drive. The river valley and nearby forests are popular with walkers and cyclists and there is plenty to do for every age and taste in the area. Lenvos is an ideal location for a peaceful break or a family holiday.

Climate

The moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean means that overall annual temperatures in Brittany do not peak or dip significantly. In the summer, there is only a slight rise in temperature in comparison to the rest of France, although temperatures can still reach 30 degrees Celsius. Winters tend to be quite mild, with only occasional frosts; however, in Finistere to the west of the region, the countryside can be buffeted by strong winds and storms. Rain is a regular occurrence year-round.

Travel

Flights:
Direct flights to Brest from:
Birmingham (Flybe)
Exeter (Flybe)
Southampton (Flybe)
London Luton (Ryanair)

Direct flights to Lorient from:
Cork (Aer Arann) - summer only

Direct flights to Rennes from:
Dublin (Aer Lingus)
Exeter (Flybe)
Southampton (Flybe)
Edinburgh (Flybe)
Direct flights to Dinard from:
East Midlands (Ryanair)
London Stansted (Ryanair)

Direct flights to Nantes from:
Dublin (Ryanair)
London Stansted (Ryanair)
Shannon (Ryanair)
London Gatwick (GB Airways)
Bristol (Aer Arann) - summer only
Cardiff (Aer Arann)
Cork (Aer Arann)
Manchester (Aer Arann)

Car:
From Calais To Rennes Distance: 320 miles
Travelling Time: 5 hours
From St Malo To Rennes Distance: 43 miles
Travelling Time: 1 hour

Rail:

There is no direct route, but you can get a connection from Paris.