Going back in time. (Brittany)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Brittany
Date:	28/07/05 (242 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: So much to see, so much tranquility to gain.

Disadvantages: Public transport minimal.

I live in Brittany, and I would extol this corner of France as being an ideal place for family holidays, and also for adult holidays. There is a wealth to discover from the northern coast right down to the southern coast, and many areas in between.

One of the nicest things about considering Brittany for a holiday is price, and although Brittany can be reached via Brittany Ferries, I feel that their pricing structure actually leaves a lot to be desired. The cheaper option by far is to take Ryanair up on its bargain flights and to hire a vehicle, which works out to make the holiday much more economical.

Accommodation

There are many options available for holiday makers, from gites to hotels, camping on a farm or on a camping complex with other campers. I would suggest that the cheapest and most adventurous option is to stay in local hotels which are plentiful and offer good value accommodation, and also make the holiday a little more flexible because you can chose hotels as you go. There always seem to be rooms available, and at reasonable cost.

What does Brittany offer ?

From the person seeking solace and peace, to those seeking out the celebration of life in a land where Bretons will welcome them with open arms, there is something for everyone. The rugged coastline, is broken up into all kinds of areas, i.e. stony beaches and sandy ones in the southern most parts. Inland, there are the lake areas, and the odd chateau to tempt you to wander around its gardens, and the wild and rugged landscape offers the nature lover the best walks that I have ever encountered.

For the more adventurous that want to experience France in the company of the Bretons, there are festivals all through the summer called Fest Noz (Festival of the Night) and Fest Dae (Festival of the Day). At many of these, the traditional instruments of Brittany can be heard and the dancing in the traditional Breton style is such a wonderful demonstration of custome and pride.

Towns in Brittany offer mostly free parking, and town centres like Vannes can be fun to discover, offering a good range of shops, restaurants, as well as a very good ambience.

The Guelardan Lake area offers countryside like the Lake District and there are many walks carved out of the rocks of the mountains so that people can enjoy the scenery and tranquility of the views that are spectacular. Also in this region, the man made lake offers safe beaches for families with children, in both commercial and less commercial areas, so that the tourist has choice.

Brittany offers a good holiday on a budget. If planned correctly, the holiday can be a pretty stress free experience, as the traffic, although travelling on the other side of the road from the U.K., is sparce and there are many open roads, that take you through the countryside to your chosen destination.

City life is offered in places like Brest, St. Brieuc, Rennes and Lorient, and in Lorient each year, there is a huge festival called the Interceltic Festival where musicians play in the streets, having their roots within the celtic Wales, Scotland, Ireland and of course Brittany.

I believe that Brittany is a good starting point for perhaps the less adventurous, or those who do not want to be that far from home. The flight takes around 35 minutes, and although Brittany is widespread, it has a good supply of main roads making access from one end of Brittany to the other a good possibility in a fortnight's holiday.

There are many market towns here, and information can be saught in most large towns at an information centre, which is usually central, and most bar/tabacs, i.e. bars that sell tobacco, keep a stock of free tourist maps, and brochures about ongoing events.

I truly believe that this part of France is under-rated and that it holds a wealth of history in its architecture from old times up to the present Neo Breton design. I also feel that the wildlife merits thought, as studies show that the flora and fauna of Brittany include many species of animal and flower that used to exist in the UK but no longer do.

Driving down the road where I live takes me back to childhood with hedges filled with flowers I knew then, that are no longer within the hedgerows of the U.K.

The natives are friendly, and most speak a little English, although an effort by holidaymakers to speak the minimum of French is appreciated by the locals.

Enjoy, it's a beautiful place that takes a step back in time.

Summary: Tranquility, and different pace of life. An unwinding.