'''Brittany''' (French: ''Bretagne'', Breton: ''Breizh''; [http://www.brittanytourism.com/]) is a diverse region of northwestern France.
Regions
The region is subdivided into four administrative ''departements'':
Cotes-d'Armor
Finistere
Ille-et-Vilaine
Morbihan
Cities
Brest
Lorient
Quimper
Rennes
Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Malo
Vannes
Vitre
Other destinations
Mont Saint Michel - actually in Normandie, but very close to the Brittany border; monastery and town built on a tiny outcrop of rock in the sand, which is cut off from the mainland at high tide. It is one of France's major tourist destinations, and as such gets ''very'' busy in high season. Check the times of the tides before you visit!
Carnac - the megalithic menhirs - stones erected by the prehistoric peoples of Brittany
Lac de Guerledan - artificial lake created by EDF, a scenic highlight of interior Brittany
Cote d'Emeraude - verdant rocky coast stretching from St Malo to St Brieuc - bustling resorts, charming fishing villages
Breton islands:
Batz
Belle Ile
Brehat
Groix
Hoedic
Houat
Ile aux Moines
Les Sept Iles
Molene
Ouessant
Quiberon
Anglo-Norman islands (British Crown dependencies):
Channel Islands
Understand
Brittany received its modern name when it was settled (in around 500 AD) by Britons, whom the Anglo-Saxons had driven from Britain. Breton history is one long struggle for independence ? first from the Franks (5th-9th century), then the Counts of Anjou and the Dukes of Normandy (10th-12th century), and finally from England and France.
The Breton people maintain a fierce sense of independence to this day, as displayed by their local customs and traditions.
In the past 5 years or so a resurgence of the regional identity has happened in France. Breton art, music and culture are recognized across the nation. France has now accepted that in diversity lies strength and unity.
Talk
The people of Brittany all speak French, many speak the regional Breton language Breton, and many speak English very well. While France tried to discourage the use of regional languages their use is rebounding, bringing a stronger understanding of culture, contributions, and history. Through the local efforts of the Bretons and the DIWAN Breton Language schools, children are being tought in the native language while they learn standard curriculum. The DIWAN schools are supported by world wide efforts through various groups, including the International Committee for the Defense of the Breton Language.
Get in
By ferry
Channel Islands.
Jersey and Guernsey to St Malo
Ireland.
Cork to Roscoff
United Kingdom
Plymouth to Roscoff and Portsmouth to St Malo
Brittany Ferries[http://www.brittany-ferries.com/] operates the following regular services:
Plymouth-Roscoff ('''''Pont-L'Abbe''''', '''''Pont-Aven''''', certain winter sailings operated by '''''Bretagne''''')
Poole-Cherbourg ('''''Barfleur'', ''Coutances'', ''Normandie Vitesse''''' (BF trading name for Condor Vitesse)
Portsmouth-St Malo ('''''Bretagne''''' with winter service operated by '''''Pont-Aven''''')
Portsmouth-Ouistreham (Caen) ('''''Mont St Michel'', ''Normandie'', ''Normandie Express''''', refit cover provided by '''''Bretagne''''')
Roscoff-Cork ('''''Pont-Aven''''', occasionally '''''Bretagne''''')
By plane
There are airports in:
Brest (Ryanair flight from London Luton and Dublin, Flybe from Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester, Southampton)
Dinard (Ryanair flight from London Stansted, and Luton in summer)
Lorient
Quimper
Rennes (flights from Paris and some other French towns, mainly with Air France)
Saint-Brieuc (Channel island flights)
By train
The TGV train runs almost hourly from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes, Brest and Quimper.
[http://www.sncf.fr SNCF website]
By car
The A11, the ''Oceane Route'', links Brittany to Paris. A dual carriageway runs from Rennes to Nantes, and there is a motorway from Nantes to Bordeaux.
All roads in Brittany are free! No peages.
By bus
SNCF offers bus services from all major rail stations in Brittany.
Get around
In Brittany, all roads are free (no tolls).
See
'''Menhirs and Dolmens''' Brittany has a large number of megaliths, which simply means "big rocks". These ''menhirs'' (standing stones) and ''dolmens'' (stone tables) were sites for burials and worship. See some magnificent examples at the bay of Morlaix and the gulf of Morbihan. Museums at Vannes and Carnac detail the archaeolgical finds made at these sites.
Do
Eat
''Kig ha farz'' - meat and stuffing
''Coquilles Saint-Jacques''
''Crepes'' and ''galettes'' (crepes made from buckwheat flour) are among the regional specialties
''Tourteaux'' (large crabs) and spider crabs
''Far breton'' - cake made with prunes
''Kouign amann'' - butter cake, served lukewarm
Drink
''Chouchen'' - Breton mead, a sweet alcohol made from fermented honey, water and yeast
Cider - alcoholic drink made from fermented apples. Very good ciders are also found in Normandy
Beer - there is a great variety (some of them are made with sea water)
Whisky - There are Breton whiskies. Nevertheless there are better ones in the Gaelic world...
''Kir Breton'' - the local adaptation of the kir. Instead of white wine you pour breton cider. Preferably from the Rance valley. (kir for those uninitiated is blackcurrent liqueur and white wine)
Stay safe
When swimming in sea watch out for rips and undercurrents. Be mindful that the tide can come at a very fast pace. Don't be stranded on an outlying island! Check the tides (marees) in your local tourist office. Ask for a tide table.
Get out