Located in northeastern France, Brittany is a charming district defined by its traditional character and beautiful seaside landscape.
Visitors will find curious fishing villages nestled in beautiful bays along the Atlantic coast, while the verdant countryside has pleasant medieval villages and fantasy castles dotted around it.
Brittany’s diverse landscape offers something for everybody, from pristine forests and peaceful fields to remote beaches and dramatic seaside scenery.
1. Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a remarkable Breton port that was once an island close to the mainland.
Built as a citadel, the city is renowned for its well-preserved medieval fortifications that give it a unique character. Although its historic center was largely destroyed during World War II, the old walls, the 14th-and 15th-century Château de Saint-Malo, and the 12th-century Cathédrale Saint-Vincent survived the besieging.
The city was later rebuilt in its original style, with rock houses that look ancient and barometrical old cobblestone streets that have survived the centuries. Visitors can explore slender pedestrian lanes that lead to bustling public squares and side streets filled with various restaurants and crêperies.
2. Rochefort-en-Terre
Rochefort-en-Terre, located just 30 kilometers from Vannes, is a pleasant village that positions as one of the most beautiful in France.
Known for its colorful and energetic floral displays, the town’s tight streets are resplendent with potted flowers and geraniums that make a demeanor of sophistication and charm. The town also includes several artists’ ateliers and delightful half-timbered and old stone houses worth exploring.
One of its fundamental highlights is the 17th-century Château de Rochefort-en-Terre. Originally a pony stable, the château was renovated by American painter Alfred Klotz in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, the castle’s inside isn’t open to visitors. Be that as it may, as it is surrounded by a leafy park which you can freely wander through, you can admire its great outside.
3. Locronan
Located in the scenic Finistère district of Brittany, Locronan is one of France’s additional alluring towns. Rich in character, it boasts stately Renaissance homes and a stunning church that dates to the 15th century, moving visitors back in time.
The town is best known for the ‘troménie’, which could appear as Breton pardons or a pilgrimage festival. On a six-yearly premise, it hosts the Grande Troménie, a spectacular 11-km religious parade where thousands of people walk together in the petition.
4. Vannes
The charming town of Vannes is roughly halfway between Nantes and Brest in the Gulf of Morbihan.
It merits visiting here to see its historic old town, nestled inside ancient walls and centered around the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre.
The cathedral is a great structure that dates back to the 13th century, boasting a ravishing rotunda-shaped chapel in the Italian Renaissance style. Inside are stunning 17th-century tapestries and a spectacular depository.
5. Concarneau
Sitting at the Moros River’s mouth, the town of Concarneau is the third-largest of France’s fishing ports. It is known for its historic fortified ‘ville close’, enclosed entirely by sturdy pinnacles and walls of rock dating back to the 14th century.
Assuming you choose to visit there, you can drench yourself in its medieval ambiance. The best method for doing this is by strolling through its thin, old-world which highlights houses displaying dynamic geraniums and historic stone buildings.
6. Rennes
When the capital of Brittany, Rennes is currently an energetic college town and a center point for the locale’s economy and culture.
While it has a history of destruction and rebuilding, it has emerged as a modern city, with streets laid out at right angles that are ideally suited for walking.
Check out the Place de la Mairie, where visitors can admire the notorious 18th-century Hôtel de Ville. Similarly, Eglise Saint-Sauveur, a stunning church built in the 17th and 18th centuries, merits visiting. So is the grandiose Place du Parlement de Bretagne, which houses the Court of Appeal.
7. Fougères
Fougères, a charming town 50 km northeast of Rennes, offers an ideal example of Brittany’s rich medieval heritage.
Presiding over the town is the Château de Fougères, a fantasy castle built between the 12th and 15th centuries that transports visitors back to the feudal period. The château is notable for the 13 pinnacles going with its fortification circuit, which you will need to take numerous photographs of. It also presents reenactments and spectacles that colorfully rejuvenate the medieval period.
Read also: Top 7 Best Things to do in Nantes, France