Brittany (Bretagne) Overview

French culture has an undeniable presence in Brittany’s centre-villes, crêperies, and châteaux, but the region still holds fast to a separate cultural identity ingrained in a history of independence. Its Celtic roots date back to pre-Roman times when Bretons settled the region. Since then, France has repeatedly tried to win over the province, finally succeeding in 1491 when the duke’s daughter, Anne de Bretagne, married two successive French kings to protect her beloved Brittany from war with Paris. The region’s cultural autonomy is most noticeable in omnipresent black-and-white Breton flags, street signs written in the Celtic language of Brezhoneg, and the traditional costumes that embellish festivals. The sweetest part of Breton culture though, is the cuisine—especially pastries like the sticky kouing-amann and the plum-filled far breton.

For its modern visitors, Brittany has something to satisfy every taste, from the millennia-old rows of Neolithic menhirs (monoliths) at Carnac to the centuries-old château of Nantes , to the budding nightlife of Rennes (below). Meanwhile, the province’s exceptional natural beauty is visible in the stunning seascapes of its offshore islands and in the woodland streams of Pont-Aven , which inspired Paul Gauguin and other 19th-century artists to found a new school of painting. In the summer, locals and tourists enjoy the beaches of sun-drenched St-Malo and Quiberon . Even in low season—when the churches, beaches, and cliffs become eerily romantic—these seaside destinations are far from dormant.