Brittany

It's said to be wild with its rugged coastlines, mysterious with its calvaries and legends, and secret with its forests. But Brittany also knows how to be joyful, when its villages resound with their 'fest-noz' or when it dresses in the colors of its brooms, hydrangeas or other heathers. Brittany is full of wonders.

Brittany is a long peninsula facing the English Channel. It features deeply indented rocky coasts and verdant valleys, dotted with dolmens, ancient monuments marking burial sites. The region's hinterland is a mosaic of farmland, fields and bocages. Breton culture is strongly rooted in tradition and Celtic heritage.

From Dinard to Nantes, 2,470 km of coastline, deep estuaries, beaches of fine sand or pebbles, steep cliffs, capes and strings of islands will delight everyone. City dwellers will enjoy the thalassotherapy sites and cures. Inland, you can wander the moors and forests in search of Merlin the Enchanter, take a boat trip down the Odet from Bénodet, watch the fish market in the port of Guilvinec, set sail for the Isle of Sein or follow the painters' route from Douarnenez to Pont-Aven. From the corsair town of Saint Malo to colorful Belle-Ile, from the Pointe du Raz to the Golf du Morbihan, you can savor buckwheat cakes, kouign amann, andouille de Guéméné or Belon oysters.

You'll find plenty of Sea-inspired dishes, from hearty Breton-style fish soup to traditional crab and lobster. As for meat, Breton cuisine offers a variety of light local sausages and charcuterie such as ham, andouille and saucisson. The famous galettes (made from buckwheat flour) and crêpes (made from oats) can be savoury or sweet, and topped with bacon, cheese or mushrooms. And for dessert, a good kouign-aman!

Ille-et-Vilaine boasts a rich cultural treasure trove that lovers of history and architecture will love to discover. Rennes, the capital of Brittany, is packed with historic monuments such as the emblematic Parlement de Bretagne, the Jacobins Convent and the magnificent Museums of Fine Arts. Other cities like Fougères, with its medieval castle, and Saint-Malo, the corsair city, will give you a taste of the region's eventful history. The vast expanses of the Emerald Coast, the tranquil beauty of the Forest de Paimpont and the Canal d'Ille-et-Rance are all exceptional sites where you can hike, sail, cycle or simply relax in the heart of nature.

Morbihan is full of treasures: the megalithic site of Carnac, one of Europe's most important prehistoric complexes, the Château de Suscinio in Sarzeau, the charming village of Rochefort-en-Terre and the medieval City of Vannes. The coast offers a wide variety of landscapes, from the famous Carnac beach to the Quiberon peninsula, via the islands of the Gulf of Morbihan, such as Belle-Île-en-Mer, Ile aux Moines and Ile d'Arz. The region offers a wide range of water sports, including sailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddling and diving. Hiking enthusiasts will be delighted to discover the many trails that criss-cross the coast, such as the mythical GR34.