About Brittany

Brittany with its rugged northern coastline, pretty bays and ports, and many islands, and its vast contrasting inland terrain of woodland areas and open rolling countryside liberally sprinkled with picturesque villages, is probably one of the most beautiful regions of France. It covers a total area of 12,500 sq miles surrounded to the north by the English Channel and to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The coast was know as Armor (the land of the sea), and inland Brittany asArgoat, the land of the woods.

It benefits on the whole from relatively mild winters, and the summer months often see rapid rises in temperature making this period very warm and extremely agreeable.

The warm friendly Breton people are fiercely proud of their culture, and have sought to protect their heritage and environment. Towns are well kept and it is always a delight to see the many floral displays. Public services and communications are good and information is readily obtainable.

Since the 16th century the capital of Brittany has been Rennes. The old city is pedestrianised. The Paimpont Forest lies 40 kilometres to the south of Rennes. It is here, according to Arthurian legend, that the young Arthur received the sword Excalibur from the fairy Vivian. Mysterious and enchanting, Brittany is an unforgettable holiday destination.More about the departements, towns and villages of Brittany will appear here over time.

There are plenty of activities in this region - it is wonderful for walking and cycling, there are lovely beaches or rocky shores, and if the seaside palls, some interesting museums and exhibitions presenting the history of life and the landscape in Brittany can be found in the Parc Régional d'Armorique. Moulins de Kerouat shows the history of the many water-mills, for example, and the Maison de la Rivière de l'Eau et de la Pêche at the Moulin de Vergraon gives a fascinating look at all things wild and watery in the region. For pre-historians, ancient burial grounds and menhirs abound, especially in Morbihan. There are woods and hills, remnants of old forests, lakes, rivers and canals, summer music festivals of various genres, and local celebrations in small fishing towns along the coasts.

Brittany has four Départements, Côtes d'Armor from the centre to the northern coast, Morhiban lying to the south of Côtes d'Armor and including the warm southern coast and islands, Finisterre to the west, and Ille-et-Vilain on the eastern side and running up to the north eastern coast. The 4 Départements are about 43% rural and 1100 communes of the 1290 are classified as "rural". About 15% of the whole Breton population lives in rural areas, while about 28% live in semi-urbanized areas of under 10 000 inhabitants. Approximately 22% live in towns of under 50 000 people, while the remaining 35% live in major urban centres, especially Rennes and Brest.

Côtes-d'Armor

The northern coast of Brittany lies in Côtesd'Armor. Here are to be found the western reaches of Côtesd'Emeraude, where the sea really is a deep emerald green and there are beautiful clean sandy beaches, cliffs and heathlands. Heading north-west (from St Brieuc take route D786) the coast becomes more rugged and wild, and the great rose pink granite rocks of the Côte Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast), wind-carved over the years into weird shapes, tumble down the sandy beaches and into the sea.
The capital of this departement, Saint-Brieuc, lies between two rivers on the north coast, west of St Malo.