Brittany, France

    Occupying the rugged northwestern tip of France, Brittany is the wildest and most untamed of all the French regions. Buffeted by the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, the coastline is strewn with lighthouses, rocky coves, windswept heaths, sheltered beaches and charismatic seaside villages. Brittany did not become part of France until 1547. This independence, along with its relative isolation from the rest of the country, has created a distinctive Breton culture, language and heritage closely related to those of Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland.
    Brittany is the most popular summer resort area in France after the Cote d'Azur. The unspoilt white sandy beaches, soaring cliffs and offshore islands attract thousands of tourists each year. Some of the finest beaches in the province include those at Carnac, Quiberon, Saint Malo and Dinard. Dinard has been a seaside resort since the turn of the century. Its belle époque mansions, old-fashioned bathing tents, and elegant cedar trees transport you effortlessly back in time. Carnac is home to some of the world's most important megalithic sites. The megaliths stretch for 13 kilometers north and east of the town.
    Drive around the region's most westernmost department -- Finistere. The most Breton of all the departments in Brittany, it is dotted with appealing fishing villages and boasts a spectacularly rugged coastline. Visit Quimper, the cultural and artistic capital of the department, take in the important naval port of Brest or dine in the windswept Channel port of Roscoff. A trip to the mysteriously beautiful Ile d'Ouessant is a must. Lying 20 kilometres from the mainland, it is a great place to observe Breton traditions and customs. The town of Vannes in south-central Brittany is a lively medieval town with some interesting museums and excellent restaurants. The city of Rennes has been the capital of Brittany since the 16th century. Stop for a coffee in the attractive pedestrianised old city. The Paimpont Forest lies 40 kilometers to the south of Rennes. It is here, according to Arthurian legend, that the young Arthur received the sword Excalibur from the fairy Vivian...
    Brittany is distinct from other French regions because of its Celtic heritage. About one-quarter of their populations of 2,815,900 are able to speak Breton, a Celtic language similar to Cornish and Welsh. The language, customs, and costumes are preserved mainly in the more isolated west. RENNES is Brittany's route focus, traditional capital, and cultural center. Its university is a center of Celtic studies.   more >>