Brittany travel guide

With a cultural heritage as rich and fascinating as its landscapes, Brittany has long been a popular destination among holiday visitors to France. It is a particularly interesting region for British visitors owing to its associations with Celtic culture, which are celebrated by regular events such as the Festival de Cornouaille held in the town of Quimper every July.

Brittany is located on a peninsula stretching out of north-west France, with the English Channel on its northern side. To the south is the Bay of Biscay, a body of water across which holidaymakers can enjoy impressive views by visiting some of Brittany's coastal towns such as Brest, Lorient and Saint-Nazaire.

The province has a warm, temperate climate, meaning sun-seekers will be able to enjoy some luxurious time on the beach during the summer, while those interested in seeing the natural wonders associated with spring or autumn will also have a good chance of pleasant weather.

Getting there

Brittany Ferries is the leading provider of ferry services to the province, with regular crossings from Portsmouth to St Malo and from Plymouth to Roscoff. In spring this year, Brittany Ferries will launch its new ship Armorique on the Plymouth to Roscoff route, a state-of-the-art ferry with the capacity to carry up to 1,500 passengers and a modern design that reflects the Brittany region and its maritime heritage.

Condor Ferries sails to St Malo from Guernsey and Jersey, with services to the French port also available from Portsmouth via the Channel Islands.

Irish Ferries provides access to Brittany from Ireland, with ferry crossings from Rosslare to Roscoff, while alternative services to other northern French ports such as Cherbourg and Le Havre are available with Celtic Link Ferries, LD Lines and other operators.

Things to do

Holidaymakers who enjoy outdoor experiences will be in their element in Brittany, as the province offers plenty of entertainment and activities that allow visitors to take in the region's picturesque landscapes. Keen golfers will be able to choose from dozens of courses, while those who prefer to spend their time fishing can pick a spot on one of Brittany's secluded creeks or white sandy beaches.

With some 2,700 kilometres of coastline, Brittany is well-known for its watersports, with windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking among the most popular. Visitors will find a number of sailing schools and sports centres where they can learn more about the activities on offer and rent the equipment required to get involved. In addition to the more traditional watersports, Brittany's coastal areas provide the opportunity to try some more unusual pastimes, such as sand-yachting and speed-sailing.

Once they have experienced the wealth of sports and outdoor leisure activities on offer in Brittany, holidaymakers can head to some of the local towns and cities to take in some culture and learn about the history of their destination. A good starting point is the 'Cities d'Art de Bretagne' – a group of towns and urban areas that are noteworthy for their architectural, cultural and artistic heritage. The network includes St Malo, Nantes and Concarneau, as well as the smaller towns of Moncontour, Bazouges and Le Faou. Visits to Brittany's towns and cities provide the opportunity to sample some of the regional cuisine, including the locally caught seafood and the famous pancakes and crepes.

Things to see

Arguably the most famous sight of all in Brittany is the bay of Mont Saint Michel, which forms a natural border between Brittany and Normandy. This tidal island has at its centre a granite hill, on top of which stands an abbey that represents a blend of gothic and Roman architecture. From the top of the hill, visitors can enjoy stunning views across the bay before heading down to explore the charming village that surrounds the abbey.

The bay of Mont Saint Michel is one of a number of protected beauty spots in Brittany that are perennially popular with tourists, along with the coastal promontory of La Pointe du Raz, the headlands of Erquy and Frehel, the marshes in the lower valley of the Oust river and the Gavres-Quiberon peninsula.

Brittany boasts the longest coastline of all of the French provinces, a stretch of land that encompasses a variety of landscapes and rock formations that are washed and buffeted by the turbulent tide. A footpath that stretches all the way from Saint-Nazaire in southern Brittany to Mont Saint Michel in the north takes in almost every sight along the region's coastline. Energetic holidaymakers can pick their section and see everything from dramatic clusters of pink granite and megalithic monuments to secluded beaches and fishing villages.

Places to stay

There are plenty of hotels scattered all over the Brittany peninsula, offering a range of accommodation options for groups of all sizes, from solo travellers and couples to large families.

Those looking to keep a lid on the costs of their trip can choose from two-star options such as the Anne de Bretagne hotel, which is well-placed for exploring the city of St Malo, or the nearby Le Jersey, which offers excellent sea views and access to the beach.

Three-star options include the Oceania in Quimper, a comfortable hotel five minutes' drive from the town centre, and the Continental in Brest, a popular establishment that boasts an Art Deco style and a quiet location close to the local shopping area.

Holidaymakers who like the idea of adding some luxury to their visit to Brittany may be tempted by the four-star Oceania in St Malo. One of the most attractive attributes of this hotel is its picturesque seafront location, just outside the walls of the old town of St Malo and close to the harbour and congress centre.