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Links to other regions

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Concise overview - map, cities, heritage, geography, language and traditions.

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Concise overview - map, cities, heritage, geography, language and traditions.

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Good resource - includes a map with some cities, info about its heritage, its cities, its geography, tourist attractions, and its language and Celtic traditions.

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Brittany - tourist attractions, accommodation andregional guide.e

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An introduction to Brittany and its main tourist attractions in Brittany - with regional information and ideas for holiday accommodation.

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Known for crêpes, galettes, and cider.

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All about food & drink in Bretagne (Brittany), France: cider, Calvados, crepes, seafood & koign amann, by Jane Fisher

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Brittany - a guide to the principal sights and tourist attractions from Mont St. Michel and St Malo to Pointe du Raz

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A map displaying where Bretagne is in France.

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Some important cities in Bretagne.

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#2 rated restaurant in the capital of Bretagne, Rennes. Here’s their Facebook page.

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Creperie Ouzh Taol, Rennes. 33 likes · 5 were here. Crêperie

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#1 rated restaurant in Brest, France. Here’s their website.

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Bienvenue sur le site officiel de la crêperie La Chaumine de Brest.

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About religion/church architecture.

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Lording it over town

It's not just beautiful, rather quirky cathedrals that dominate the skyline and centre of many big Breton towns, other major churches also still make their presence felt in most towns. At St-Pol-de-Léon, for example, the bishop's church is sensationally outdone by the town church's spire. Often, urban centres grew up around an influential abbey and in Quimperlé, Redon, St-Gildas or Daoulas, the abbey buildings still stand at the heart of the place. In the last instance, the interiors have been turned into a major exhibition centre.

Rural religious stops

Even small Breton communities would pay for as fine a church as they could afford in medieval times, explaining why so many villages have remarkable religious edifices. Finistère is famed for the elaborate array of elements in its parish enclosures, notably the highly carved outdoor calvaries. In the countryside, chapels could be very modest, their roofs almost touching the ground, but they were cherished.

Hidden abbeys

Medieval abbeys were often founded deep in the countryside, leaving the monks to develop learning and the land in quiet communion with nature. Although many of these fell into ruin, some have been restored as cultural centres, such as Beauport, Bon-Repos, St-Maurice and Landévennec, the last an influential Celtic abbey famed for its manuscripts.

Find out more about Abbeys and Churches to visit in Brittany.

Did you know ?

Iliz-Koz is a church on the north Finistère coast that vanished under the sands long ago, but its remarkable ruins were rediscovered when new houses were built.

Guided audio tour

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Religious heritage : In Brittany, the Church has been an extremely powerful force since its inception -although just as a distinctive Celtic brand of Catholicism developed in the region, so did a slightly different rel...

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Breton

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Breton connections

Breton may not have managed to survive as vibrantly as Welsh, but if you're from Wales, or have visited that country, you may spot many familiar words in Brittany. ' Kreis ker', for example, means 'town centre'. ' Ker' is a word you'll see a lot, signalling a locality. ' Pen' or ' penn' (headland or end), is another word commonly found either side of the Celtic Channel ; Finistère is thus known as Penn ar Bed, 'the end of the earth', in Breton. Add ' pen' to ' ty' (house), and you get a ' penty ' - Breton for 'end of a house', i.e. a cottage. It's fun getting to grips with the building blocks of the language.

Minding your Ps and Qs

To say hello in Breton, the expression is ' Degemer Mad'. Goodbye is ' Kenavo'. You'll often see posters advertising a ' ', or night festival, when you can enjoy traditional Breton singing and dancing. To join in and say cheers, the phrase you should have on your lips is ' Yech mad', literally 'good health'. That last word, ' mad ' by the way, means 'good' in Breton, rather than indicating troubled sanity !

Learning the lingo

The closest you may come to learning Breton on holiday is by studying a restaurant placemat illustrated with basic Breton words although you'll find a good array of publications on the Breton language in local bookshops. It's now possible to take school leaving exams in Breton, and Diwan schools teach wholly in Breton, even if the number who attend is very small. Some universities in Brittany also offer courses in Breton.

Did you know ?

Although it's hard to calculate precise numbers, it's estimated that some 200,000 people can speak Breton today.

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Languages : Breton is a Celtic language closely related to Welsh and Cornish. From the Revolution, which imposed a single French language, the number of Breton speakers slowly dwindled. In the 19th century, th...

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Around 3.27 million

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All about crêpes & crêperies in Brittany, France, & how to enjoy them, by Jane Fisher

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Bretagne Taking Over Wine Industry in France??? 😲

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Bretagne Taking Over Wine Industry in France??? 😲

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But in the not too distant future, you might well find bottles of Brittany red or white wine in your local supermarket. Does it sound too far-fetched?

Vineyards are already appearing all over Brittany.

For centuries, wine growing in Brittany has been almost impossible due to the Atlantic winds and rain and the lack of sunlight making the climate too cold and severe for any vines to grow properly.

Although things were different many hundreds of years ago when monks used to cultivate wine on the land, before cold spells in the middle ages severely affected the vineyards and surge of maritime commerce and farmers moving to produce cider put an end to Brittany's wine production.

But Brittany's climate is changing and people are starting making the most of the opportunity by growing grapes.

"Global warming is a big reason why there are more vineyards here than there used to be," Jérôme Dreano from local weather agency Météo Bretagne told The Local.

"For several decades now we have noticed the temperature is Brittany gradually increasing and we have come to a point where wine growing is indeed possible."

He said that the warmer summers and milder winters in recent years meant that people could get away with growing grapevines.

And it appears the temperatures in Brittany meet the very specific wine-growing conditions.

"To make sure that grapes are properly matured, it can't be too hot but it can't be freezing either. Regions with a mild temperature are therefore ideal for vineyards," Kees Van Leuuwen, a viticulturist in Bordeaux, told Le Monde newspaper.

He said that if a region is one degree Celsius warmer than another that can be a huge advantage when it comes to wine growing and that with global warming, Rennes, Brittany's capital, could be as warm as Bordeaux by 2100.

And winegrowers in Bordeaux have long been nervous about the impact of climate change with scientists believing climate change could force producers to relocate, or abandon the grapes that helped to make their vineyards famous.

"For much of France, local climates have been relatively stable for hundreds or thousands of years," said Elizabeth Wolkovich, an assistant professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard University and co-author of the study.

"But that is shifting with climate change," she told AFP.

European laws have made wine growing easier

So, Brittany is really making hay, or wine, while the sun shines.

But there is also an administrative aspect. Since the first of January 2016, thanks to a European directive and to the outcome of negotiations that took place in 2013, France was able to ease the strict laws concerning grape harvesting and wine production.

Each year, French wine growers can increase the area they cultivate by 1 percent of the total national surface already used for vineyard, essentially meaning it's easier to create vineyards.

The fact that laws have made the process of creating vineyards easier and that global warming has influenced grape cultivation means that many regions north of Burgundy such as Normandy, Ile-de-France and Brittany are now experiencing a real boost in wine culture, reports wine tourism website Vinotrips.

Last year, two wine growers, Bernard Tardivel and Jean-Pierre Vivier, produced their first red wine in Saint-Suliac, a small village in Brittany.

The wine is made from a grape variety that originates from Portugal called Rondo, specially chosen for its robustness and longevity.

"We really have a little paradise here. The weather is always mild in Brittany," Vivier told the 20 Minutes newspaper.

Locals encouraged to grow wine

Town Halls in Brittany are also joining the trend. The mayor of Sarzeau, a small town on the south coast of Brittany, decided to offer plots of land to the community for anyone wishing to try their hand at wine growing.

Lénaïc Chevallier, the co-manager of the project, said there is a definite interest from the locals.

"We are very excited about the project. It's a great idea because the land around Sarzeau was known in Brittany as being favourable for wine growing," she told The Local.

"Even though there weren't many vineyards, Sarzeau was actually producing wine until the 1960s, now the tradition is coming back to town," she added.

"We can see that people are really interested in making this happen, many applied for the job and we have only recently managed to shorten the list down to two applicants".

If all goes well, Chavallier thinks they will start planting vines in 2019 and will start to reap the benefits within five years. After Bordeaux and Burgundy, Brittany may well take its spot on the France's wine map. *

By Anya Walsh

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Move over Bordeaux: Could Brittany soon rule France's wine map?

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Brittany, the region of northwestern France, is renowned for its beaches, seagulls and delicious seafood - but one of the last things you'd associate with the area is local wine.

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Your padlet is really awesome! I think that you should try to find something about the culture!

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Your Padlet is great! I love the set up and all the information and pictures that go along with them! The only thing i would suggest is maybe moving some thing around like the stretch of posts that are really long, then there are some that only have 1. Looks a bit lopsided but other than that I love it!

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I really like your padlet! Everything is organized into categories which is helpful. It is also very informational and you have some great pictures and websites! The only thing I would change is maybe add some videos

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I like how you used the arrows to keep everything attached. I think that's creative. I would add a little bit more about the language

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If you're interested, here's a website where you can learn some of Bretagne's language!

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Learn Breton. Method to learn vocabulary, useful expressions and you will gain a good pronunciation in Breton.

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If you're looking at this Margaret, Bryson did comment feedback about my info, I just wasn't thinking for a minute and deleted it.

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Link to a little bit about Bretagne's art appeal for tourists and what about this region inspires artists.

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The deep blue of the ocean, the bright yellow of the flowering broom, the ever changing skies, the strength of character of its granite buildings, the ports, traditions and beliefs...A million and one things that have inspired - and still inspire - so many artists to paint, draw, sculpt or photograph Brittany! From Paul Gauguin to Manoli, Mathurin Méheut and Pierre de Belay, each had his own artistic style and individual vision of the Breton landscape...To discover them, all you have to do is cross the threshold of one of the many museums or lesser-known exhibition spaces that just seem to thrive here in Brittany.

Museums and exhibition spaces in Brittany

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The deep blue of the ocean, the bright yellow of the flowering broom, the ever changing skies, the strength of character of its granite buildings, the ports, traditions and beliefs...A million and one things that have inspired - and still inspire - so many artists to paint, draw, sculpt or photograph Brittany!

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A French glossary for important words related to Bretagne.

Seafood - Fruits de mer
Cider - jus de pomme

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Gives lost of info about Bretagne like its history, tourist attractions, and even an interactive map!

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Brittany has known many stormy periods in its history, but it has been a cherished land since Neolithic and Celtic times. Caesar subjugated the Celts and as Roman rule faded, waves of British immigrants transformed the place. Through medieval and Ancien Régime periods, Brittany and Britain fought bitterly for trade and then colonies until today's tourist times brought much happier relations.

Newsletter

Stay connected with Brittany Subscribe to our newsletter

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Brittany has known many stormy periods in its history, but it has been a cherished land since Neolithic and Celtic times. Caesar subjugated the Celts and as Roman rule faded, waves of British immigrants transformed the place. Through medieval and Ancien Régime periods, Brittany and Britain fought bitterly for trade and then colonies until today's tourist times brought much happier relations.

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About festivals such as the traditional Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

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Folklore to the fore

There are countless Breton festivals giving pride of place to Breton traditions. For big costumed parades, Quimper's Fête de Cornouaille and Pont-l'Abbé's Fête des Brodeuses are hard to beat. Guingamp is known for its Breton dance gatherings and Paimpol for its celebration of Breton sea shanty. Several towns stage historic festivals, for example Dinan and Vannes and many other places host folklore festivals, or special events for Breton tales. The biggest traditional festival is Lorient's massive August Festival Interceltique; it has international and even political dimensions taking it beyond Breton traditions.

Religious pardons Breton-style

Pardons are typically Breton religious festivals where the local community carries its saints' statues and banners out of church and processes around after them. Some of the most famous are those of Ste-Anne-d'Auray, St Yves at Tréguier and Locronan. The latter, known as the Troménie, is thought to have roots going back to ancient Celtic times. Many other places take their annual pardon seriously, although tourists are welcome to join the ranks of faithful.

Contemporary cool

Rennes puts on two major contemporary music festivals either end of the year, plus a contemporary art biennial. St-Malo welcomes a well-known rock festival, but the contemporary music festival that attracts the most excitement is Les Vieilles Charrues, at little old Carhaix. Even the island of Ouessant has boldly hosted a rock festival recently.

Did you know ?

The town of Gourin celebrates one of Brittany's most famous culinary traditions with its annual July Fête de la Crêpe !

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There are countless Breton festivals giving pride of place to Breton traditions. For big costumed parades, Quimper's Fête de Cornouaille and Pont-l'Abbé's Fête des Brodeuses are hard to beat. Guingamp is known for its Breton dance gatherings and Paimpol for its celebration of Breton sea shanty.

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More about this festival that celebrates the region’s Celtic heritage.

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Each summer, around 700,000 people from all over the world invade the Celtic land of Lorient for the Festival Interceltique. From Galicia to Scotland, the cream of Celtic music can be found here, to be enjoyed in a really convivial atmosphere.

Every year it's the same song and dance! Since 1971, this festival has really got it in the bag-ad, for every year it's bombard-ed with over 700,000 visitors coming to listen to the Celtic sounds of the bombards and the bagad. Just like the Pied Piper, this inter-Celtic parade mesmerises the crowd, assembled here to celebrate an inter-Celtic night at the Moustoir stadium or in the fishing port, to the sound of the Scottish and Spanish bagpipes that fill the air. Around 200 events and shows and 5000 performers on the bill...Tourists will love the atmosphere, and the Lorient locals are wholeheartedly involved in this festival which celebrates Celtic culture. Well into its forties, the Interceltique may be greying a little around the temples, but it is still young at heart.

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Festival Interceltique de Lorient: 2-11 August 2019

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Festival Interceltique de Lorient: 2-11 August 2019 : Each summer, around 700,000 people from all over the world invade the Celtic land of Lorient for the Festival Interceltique. From Galicia to Scotland, the cream of Celtic music can be found here, t...

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Interesting - tells you about Bretagne’s current and past flags.

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Last modified: 2014-04-23 by ivan sache Keywords: brittany | bretagne | breizh | ermines: 9 (black) | ermines: 11 (black) | ermines: 5 (black) | marchal (morvan) | gwenn-ha-du | Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors