Brittany walking tours - Brittany bike tours
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Self-guided trips in Brittany Region
Guided trips in Brittany Region
Brittany Region occupies a large peninsula lying between the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. Its capital is Rennes.
The region of Brittany is made up of 80% of the former Duchy and Province of Brittany. The remaining 20% of the province is the Loire-Atlantique department which now lies inside the Pays de la Loire region. Its capital, Nantes, was the historical capital of the Duchy of Brittany. Part of the reason why Brittany was split between two present-day regions was to avoid the rivalry between Rennes and Nantes. Some people in Brittany and Nantes continue to protest against the current division of Brittany and would like to see Loire-Atlantique combined with the region of Brittany in order to reunify the historic area of Brittany. Western Brittany has maintained a distinctly Celtic language, the Breton which is related to Cornish and Welsh. It has been granted regional language status and revival efforts are underway.
Hiking in Brittany is well-known in France thanks to thousands of coastal paths called the Customs footpaths (or "sentier des douaniers" in French), where walking is really pleasant and can be sometimes challenging too in some parts when the cliffs replace the sandy beaches.
This is also a place where Cycling is an important thing and where great champions have trained...
The Canals edges and peaceful roads make the rides secure and very pelasant.
Highlights
- Rich History
The Armorica peninsula, in antiquity, is famed for its numerous Neolithic monuments. The great burial chambers predate the Egyptian pyramids.
In the Iron-Age centuries preceding Caesar’s conquest of Armorica, a strong Celtic culture emerged, the druids, the charismatic priests, the legends have left a strong cultural imprint.
In Brittany, the Church has been very powerful. This was a distinctive Celtic brand of Catholicism with a slightly different religious architecture. The outdoor carved calvaries may be the most unusual element
- Rich Natural Heritage :
GR34 around the peninsula covers around 1800 km (1120 miles) of trails following the coastline. The “Chemins des Douaniers” (Path of the Customs officer) were created in the 18th century to discourage smuggling.The GR34 is perfectly signposted with red and whites blazes as a GR is commonly marked in France.
All three Breton coasts offer a sublime mix of sandy and rocky shores :
On the Channel side, the vast open bays of northern Brittany are profoundly affected by the tides.
The west coast is the most exposed to the strong Atlantic Ocean; it has the most fearsome of cliff defences, although the bays of Brest and Douarnenez offer havens.
The south coast is characterized by long sweeps of sand and claims the most hours of sunshine, plus the mesmerising Gulf of Morbihan, an inland sea peppered with islands.
Brittany’s shores bristle with defensive castles and forts as the coast was once vulnerable to invaders.
And also of course numerous charming traditional fishing ports.
- Fine Cuisine :
Enjoy genuine Breton pancakes; Buy your oysters direct from the producer; Enjoy a nice cold Breton beer; Try the mussels of Mont Saint Michel Bay; Sample shellfish and crustaceans
Self-guided trips in Brittany Region
Guided trips in Brittany Region
