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One of the most favorable ways to get to Brittany is to fly from Kiev to Nantes. The road from Nantes to Saint-Malo by car will take you less than 2 hours, by train or bus - 2-3 hours.
This popular resort on the Atlantic Ocean coast is an excellent starting point for day trips around the northern part of Brittany.
The most interesting sights
The town of Saint-Malo, a former pirate stronghold, was partially destroyed by bombing in 1944: only 180 of the 883 buildings dating from the 15th to 16th centuries in the historic center have survived, but even these were damaged. Much of what you will see is the result of the work of restorers who have managed to restore the buildings to their original appearance.
Saint-Vincent Cathedral of Saint-Malo
The pride of the temple is the stained glass windows, which were damaged during World War II and later restored. Interesting fact: it is named after Vincent of Saragossa, the patron saint of winemakers, but it is located in one of the few regions of France where grapes are not grown.
Old Town (Intra-Muros)
Surrounded by a fortress wall, along which you can walk. Most of the buildings are houses of shipowners and merchants built in the 17th and 18th centuries. You can get inside through the Grande'Porte or Porte Saint-Vincent gates.
Chateau St. Malo
The castle was built in the XV-XVIII centuries by the Dukes of Brittany to protect the city. Now inside work the city hall and the historical museum, but tourists are primarily attracted by the observation deck on the Solidor tower, which offers a beautiful view.
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Address: Place Chateaubriand
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00, lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00
Cost: €6
Fort Nacional
Built in 1689 for the defense of Saint-Malo and is closely linked to the history of the city. It is easily accessible most of the day, it is just important to check the start time of the tide to make it back in time. Once inside, you will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos from the walls of the fortification.
Address: 60 Chaussée du Sillon
Opening hours: depends on the season and the day of the week, see the website for the latest information.
Cost: €5
The islands of Grand Be and Petit Be
Grand Be is the burial place of the writer Chateaubriand, a native of Saint-Malo, and can be reached at low tide via a stone causeway. On Petit Be there is another fort, also accessible by boat at low tide.
The fortress town is territorially part of Normandy, but has belonged to Brittany for so long that many guidebooks still include it in their list of attractions in the region.
It is the most visited place in France after Paris, about 20,000 people come here every day, annually - about 2.5 million.
You will first arrive in the town of Mont Saint-Michel, built in the first half of the 13th century. There are only 30 permanent inhabitants, who work in the service sector and agriculture. The only street is called La Grande Rue, where souvenir stores and restaurants are concentrated. Walking along it to the end, you will find yourself at the staircase of 350 steps leading to the entrance to the abbey (the ticket office is located at its foot).
Don't be in a hurry to leave - Mont Saint-Michel is especially beautiful at sunset and at night (the lights are on until midnight).
How to get there: as part of a tour group, by Keolis bus or by car (coordinates: 48.6360, -1.5114). The parking lot is 2.5 kilometers from the entrance to the complex: it can be reached on foot (about 35 minutes), by free bus, whose terminus is 350 meters from the city walls (about 10 minutes), or by horse-drawn carriage (about 25 minutes, €5 one way, free for children under 4 years old).
Opening hours: the abbey is open from 9:00 (9:30) to 18:00 (19:00), depending on the season
Cost: €10 for an adult, €8 for a child
There are oyster farms around the city, which is why there are so many restaurants that specialize in seafood dishes. If you want a democratic snack, head to the waterfront, where there's a daily market. A dozen freshly caught oysters will cost between €3.5 and €6.5, and you can buy cider or wine at any store along the way.
How to get there: by car (30 minutes) or shuttle bus (40 minutes)
The town is famous for its unusual open-air gallery (Chemin des Rochers Sculptés). On the shore of the ocean, among the stones, the figures of characters of legends, strange animals, prominent natives of Brittany and saints revered in these parts are hidden. There are about 300 sculptures and all of them were created over 15 years by one man - a deaf-mute clergyman named Adolphe-Julien Fouret.
How to get there: by car (coordinates 48.686780, -1.967523) or by bus number 4, which leaves from Saint-Malo station
Opening hours: from 9:00 (10:00) to 18:00 (19:00), depending on the season.
Cost: €2.5, free admission for children under 10 years old
A small cozy town with half-timbered houses with less than 12,000 inhabitants. Unlike Saint-Malo, it was virtually unscathed during World War II and has retained its appearance since the early 20th century.
The most interesting sights:
Every summer Dinan hosts the Fête des Remparts ("Feast of the Fortress Walls") festival, during which not only the participants but also many locals dress up in historical costumes. It lasts 4 days and includes theatrical performances, concerts, jousting tournaments, workshops and a fair. Platforms for free events will be set up in the center and near the Church of Christ the Savior, for paid events - in the moats, near the fortress walls. This year the festival will be held from July 19 to 22.
How to get there: by car (about 30 minutes), Tibus bus #10 or TER trains with a change at Dol de Bretagne station (about 1 hour).
The oldest town in Brittany and the administrative center of Finistère, the westernmost department of France. Once you visit it, you'll be able to say you've been to the ends of the earth!
Kemper is a convenient starting point for day trips in the surrounding area. The town's main attractions are:
Every year in July, Kemper hosts the Cornish Festival. In the week leading up to the fourth Sunday of the month, the town hosts theatrical performances, concerts and costume parades, bringing together groups from other Celtic countries. On Sunday there is a colorful parade through the streets, the program of which is not disclosed in advance.
How to get there: from Nantes to Camper takes up to 3 hours by train, about 4 hours by bus and 2-2.5 hours by car.
DAY TRIPS FROM CAMPER:
People come here for the beautiful scenery: cliffs up to 70 meters high, fields of flowering heather, lighthouses and the Atlantic Ocean splashing at your feet. To the east of the cape is the bay of Trepaset, favored by surfers.
For a solitary stroll, come here early in the morning - towards midday groups arrive and it gets too crowded.
How to get here: by car (about 50 minutes) or bus 53b or 52b from the train station (1 hour 20 minutes, ticket costs €2).
One of the most beautiful villages in France, located in the Armorique National Park. It has preserved traditional half-timbered houses, 22 buildings in the center have the status of national monuments and are protected by the state.
The Church of the Savior, built in the 16th century, and the Town Hall on Place des Foiries are also worth seeing.
How to get there: by car (about 30 minutes)
A small, quiet lakeside town in the Armorique National Park: colorful houses, an old church, a mill, a sleepy atmosphere... Nothing unusual. If it were not for the mysterious forest located here, where granite blocks will constantly catch your eye. Some are sure that the stones were scattered here by a Celtic giant, others believe that this is the work of Gargantua.
The most famous boulder is called La Roche Tremblante. Despite its weight of 100 tons, even a child can make it swing, the main thing is to find the right place to apply force.
How to get there: by car (about an hour).
One of the most popular soft drinks is Breizh Cola, an analog of Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola. Beer lovers should try the products of Coreff de Morlaix and Lancelot breweries, in particular Telenn Du buckwheat beer. Local cider is also good, with Cornouaille being the most delicious.
