Brittany (Bretagne), occupies the western tip of France, surrounded on
three sides by a long and varied coastline. There are rugged cliffs dotted
with lighthouses, wide estuaries, islands and islets where bird life is
protected, and picturesque harbours. White sandy beaches and pretty coves make
for wonderful bathing opportunities. Sailing and windsurfing are popular and
some of the best scuba-diving areas in France can be found there. The climate is
mild but the region's Atlantic exposure means that winters can be wet, very
windy and bitterly cold.
Much of the inland is unexplored, with some parts surprisingly remote and
depopulated. Mont Saint-Michel may be Brittany's best-known attraction.
Surrounded by the most powerful tides in Europe, perched high on a rocky island,
this medieval city and its abbey are a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural
Heritage Site.
The earliest people of Brittany erected dolmens and menhirs dating to 3500
BC. The Celts followed. In 56 BC, the region wasonquered by Caesar and after the
fall of the Roman Empire, additional Celts from Britain migrated across the
channel, giving Brittany its present-day name.
Some Bretons still speak the Breton language but traditional Breton
customs are most evident in the far western half of the peninsular. There are
still old people speaking Celtic, wearing traditional clothes and headdresses,
apple cider is still pressed by hand at the farm and the harvest is still a
festival time. The eastern half has retained little in the traditional way of
life. The capital city of Brittany, Rennes, is surprisingly modern with
nightlife and big musical festivals.
Breton cuisine is known for its legendary seafood and gourmands will enjoy
oysters with rye or wheat buttered bread and homard à l'amoricaine.. A
trip to Vivier-sur-Mer, Paimpol, Saint-Cast or the bay of Saint-Brieu is
worth a trouble if you appreciate mussels followed by traditional apple cider,
usually accompanied by famous "Breton cakes".
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