About Brittany

Brittany is situated in the North West of France.  The region has a welcoming warmth and is alive with its miscellany of  buildings constructed from local granite, medieval half timbered buildings and beautiful Chateaux set in a green countryside, interspersed with beautiful rivers. Brittany is a rich land, with wonderful seafood and freshwater fish, rich dairy products and excellent meats. The locally grown vegetables are delicious and a pleasure to buy in the area’s busy markets. No wonder Brittany has been described as an immense 30,000 sq km garden between sky and sea, with a climate made temperate by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Brittany is also said to have the cleanest air in Europe.

The region possesses a unique culture, where three languages are spoken, French, Breton - western Brittany, and Gallo - eastern Brittany.  The Breton language is most similar to Welsh and Cornish with many words totally identical and it is said  resulted from the influx of immigrants from the south of Britain in the 5th–6th centuries. 

Brittany's 4  Departments 

Brittany is divided in 4 separate departments, each with its own unique characteristics.    

22 - Cote d'Armor

The Emerald Coast lives up to its name. The shear clarity of its blue waters sets off the deep green ericas and bracken which cling to the rugged cliffs, and later in the year assume the archetypal colours of Autumn. To these great natural gifts are added many beaches of fine sand with good bathing. It has for long been a favourite resort and camping area for French and British holidaymakers alike. Some of the most charming old towns are Dinan, Treguier, Lannion and Paimpol.

35 - Ille et Vilaine

Borders lower Normandy, and the Pays de la Loire. Lille-et-Villaine has the shortest (35 miles) coast-line of Brittany's four departments, but packs a lot into it.  It is also the home of the capital of Brittany and the second-largest city in western France. Rennes has been labelled France's most liveable city. Contributing reasons include its great public transport infrastructure, its ranking as the safest city of its size in France and its clean air.

29 - Finistère

Finistère, meaning the 'end of the earth' is the most westerly of the 96 departments of France. It lies at the tip of the Breton peninsula, and with two spectacular coastlines, one facing Cornwall in south-west England, and the other looking west out into the Atlantic, Finistère has a wide choice of holiday destinations to offer.

56 - Morbihan

The most southerly part of Brittany's long coastline. The department has a generally mild climate which can support vegetation usually more at home around the Mediterranean. Morbihan is also blessed with a rich mixture of marine landscapes which attract an abundance of sea creatures and bird life. The Golfe du Morbihan, a large inland sea with numerous islands, is a wonderful natural feature of the area.

Typical views of the beautiful Brittany landscape

Land and People

Brittany and the Breton people have retained many old customs and traditions. Breton, their Celtic language (akin to Welsh), is spoken in traditionalist Lower (i.e., western) Brittany outside the cities.  The Breton people are especially  friendly and welcoming and very seldom walk past without saying 'Bonjour'. Brittany has remarkable stone calvaries, some built at the close of the 16th century to ward off the plague. Many megalithic monuments, formerly ascribed to the druids, dot the Breton landscape, notably at Carnac. The coast, particularly at the western tip, is irregular and rocky, with natural harbours (notably at Brest, Lorient, and Saint-Malo) and numerous islands. These sights and the local traditions (old-fashioned peasant dress and high lace headgear, processions, and pilgrimages), which its inhabitants jealously maintain, have made Brittany an outstanding tourist attraction and a place to settle.

Economy

The mild climate favours cattle farming and vegetable growing. In addition to these traditional farming sectors, pig and poultry farming have recently been thriving. Specialised in livestock production (with 70% of farms geared to it) Brittany represents more than half of the national pigs livestock, 40% of the poultry production and 20% of the milk production. In all, Brittany accounts for 6.2% of the total French agricultural production and 23% of the livestock production. Fishing, although weakened, consolidates the importance of the primary sector in the regional economy.

Climate

Brittany is on the west coast of France and in summer it has a warm temperate climate. It does rain sometimes, which is one of the reasons its countryside is so green and wooded, but it would be an unusual week if there was not more sun that cloud.

Food and Drink

The Bretons are big eaters... That means they don't generally go in for the peeled prawn, sprig of dill and some 'drizzled' pink sauce that one might get in Paris. Here if you want seafood (and it's some of the best in the world) they give you a lot! In most cases you'll be eating wonderfully cooked local food whether it's vegetables from north Brittany, beef and lamb from the heartland or fresh fish from the coast.

Brittany boasts several breweries that make excellent beer. As you meander through the countryside you'll pass the apple orchards that produce some of the best cider in the world, and really refreshing on a hot day.

Travel

There are several airports in Brittany serving destinations in France, England and Ireland. Many new routes have opened up recently with a number of airlines offering some cheap flights direct from the UK to Brittany. Flybe, Ryan Air and Aer Arann offer discount regular services. 

Brittany Ferries offer regular sailings throughout the year to several ports on the Normandy and Brittany coast from both England and Ireland.  Please go to our 'Useful Information' page for more details

Brittany Properties

Whether it is a brick built town house, a Stone-built bijou cottage in the country, an old Mill by a stream or a grand Chateaux that you are looking for, you will find it in Brittany. Properties with land are available at a fraction of the price you would normally pay in the UK and Ireland. Whether you are looking for a new build, an older property ready to move into or a renovation project, there is a huge choice available to you.