BRITTANY NORTH AND EAST

Explore a coastline packed with quaint fishing villages and welcoming resorts. Visit the walled city of St Malo, one of Brittany’s main towns. Once a major privateer stronghold, you’ll find a maze of cobbled streets bursting with bustling cafes, restaurants and shops.

 

Across the River Rance the chic Breton seaside resort of Dinard offers sandy beaches, coastal walks and a fine casino.

 

Head inland to the medieval river port of Dinan or Brittany’s university city of Rennes. Deep in the lush countryside, soak up the magic of the enchanted Forest of Broceliande where the legendary magician, Merlin, reputedly lived.

 

St Malo

This lovely walled city, one of Brittany Ferries’ arrival ports, has a magnificent rampart walk with fine views. It is a shopping paradise with a huge variety of boutiques, and cafes and restaurants abound. Follow signs to the city’s magnificent Aquarium on the outskirts.

 

Dinard

Elegant seaside resort with ‘belle epoque’ villas and casino made popular in the nineteenth century by wealthy English and Americans. Enjoy glorious beaches, pretty coastal walks, sub-tropical vegetation and visit nearby ‘Rance Barrage’ dam.

 

Dinan

Arrive by boat for spectacular views of the castle and fortifications of one of France’s most attractive walled towns overlooking the River Rance. Leave the restaurants of the old port by a steep cobbled street to find a perfect medieval town, great craft shops and cafes.  

 

Rennes

The capital of Brittany since 1561, this city of art and history also holds a wide variety of renowned music and cinematic festivals. Visit Brittany’s parliament building and Basilica Saint-Sauveur.

 

Vitre

An historic heritage town with medieval streets, half-timbered houses, castle, museums and gardens.

 

Fougeres

With over 1,000 years of history, the town boasts the largest medieval castle in Europe.

 

Rostrenen

Located in the Pays Fisel, this is one of Brittany’s prettiest towns complete with an imposing sixteenth century chateau. Its central location makes it ideal for exploring Brittany, including the coasts and the Nantes-Brest Canal. It has a good selection of restaurants, a thriving Tuesday market, lakes for fishing and watersports, and holds a traditional ‘Pardon’ in mid August dating back to the fourteenth century.

 

Pink Granite Coast

Famous for its extraordinary wind and water sculpted rocks, particularly dramatic around Perros Guirec. View the scattered giant boulders at their rosiest under a September sunset.

 

This northern stretch of coast has amazing beaches, magnificent coastal path and pretty resorts such as Tregastel and Trebeurden.

 

Forest of Paimpont/Broceliande

Deep in the lush countryside close to Rennes, soak up the magic of this enchanted forest. Known by its ancient name, Broceliande is steeped in legends of King Arthur, the Lady of the Lake and Merlin the Magician.

 

Brittany is famous for wheat flour crepes, delicate pancakes with wonderful fillings served as a dessert or stand-by meal. Try savoury gallettes using buckwheat flour with a bowl of cider - the region is France’s largest cider producer.

 

Brittany’s rich fishing grounds ensure gourmet seafood, from  ‘coquuilles St-Jaques’ made with finest Erquy scallops to ‘cotriade’ (fish stew). Brittany is not a wine producer so dry white Muscadet or Gros Plant from around neighbouring Nantes is often served with seafood.

 

Steamed or grilled chestnuts eaten with salted butter are a delight for autumn visitors while ‘far Breton’ - baked sponge and custard dotted with plums - is an all year round favourite.

 

Le Val Andre - Beach  

A huge beach on the Emerald Coast with fine white sand and promenade of Victorian-style houses. Find shops and bars away from the seafront.

 

Redon - Boat Trips

Situated where the Rivers Oust and Vilaine and the Nantes-Brest Canal meet, Redon has locks and even towpaths in the centre of town. The ideal place to begin leisurely cruises by steam, sail or canoe around the Brittany countryside.

 

Sept-Iles – Bird Watching

A wildlife sanctuary accessible by boat from Perros-Guirec, Sept-lles is France’s largest seabird colony and home to thousands of gannets, puffins and razorbills.

 

Cancale - Oyster Tasting

Sample oysters from the enormous beds in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. See where they grow, explore their history and sample their succulence - traditionally eaten with a drop of lemon juice or vinegar sauce - at tastings in restaurants and at stalls.

 

‘La Tombee de la Nuit’ - Rennes

Magical nights of mystery shows with light, sound and music in this medieval city. Poets, musicians and storytellers perform in July 2008 at venues including the beautiful Garden of Thabor.

 

‘Fete de la Morue’ - Binic

Four days in May of concerts, traditional music and food market, celebrating the local fishing industry - particularly cod. Picturesque boats, fishermen sharing their knowledge of the sea, and a variety of special cod dishes to try.

 

 ‘Pardon de St-Yves’ - Treguier

‘Pardons’ are ancient religious festivals held annually throughout Brittany to honour the local patron saint. Treguier in May is one of Brittany’s largest, with an enormous church mass and ten thousand pilgrims in procession through the streets. Dressed in black, red, and ermine and carrying yellow and gold flags, they honour St-Yves, the patron saint of lawyers.

 

Brittany Tourist Board

1, rue Raoul Ponchon

35069 Rennes cedex

 

Tel: (00 33) 299 28 44 30

 

Please check precise details and dates with event organisers before making your holiday and travel arrangements.

 

Copyright: Holiday France Direct 2008