Atypical France: Top 9 places in Brittany

One of the most affordable ways to get to Brittany is to fly 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.

1. Saint-Malo

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.

Day trips from Saint-Malo:

2. Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

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 area is 2.5 kilometers from the entrance to the complex: you can walk (about 35 minutes), take a free shuttle bus whose final stop is 350 meters from the city walls (about 10 minutes), or ride a horse-drawn carriage (about 25 minutes, €5 one way, free for children under 4).

Opening hours: the abbey is open from 9:00 (9:30) to 18:00 (19:00), depending on the season.

Admission: €10 for adults, €8 for children.

3. Cancale

Oyster farms are located around the town, which is why there are so many restaurants specializing in seafood dishes. If you’re looking for a budget bite, head to the waterfront, where a market operates daily. A dozen freshly harvested oysters costs between €3.5 and €6.5; cider or wine can be purchased at any shop along the way.

How to get there: by car (30 minutes) or by bus (40 minutes).

4. Sculpture Park in Rothéneuf

The town gained fame thanks to an unusual open-air gallery (Chemin des Rochers Sculptés). Along the ocean shore, among the rocks, you can spot figures of legendary characters, curious animals, prominent natives of Brittany, and saints revered in the region. There are around 300 sculptures in total, all created over 15 years by a single person—a deaf-mute clergyman named Adolphe-Julien Fouéré.

How to get there: by car (coordinates: 48.686780, -1.967523) or by bus No. 4 departing from Saint-Malo train station.

Opening hours: from 9:00 (10:00) to 18:00 (19:00), depending on the season.

Admission: €2.5; free entry for children under 10.

5. Dinan

A small, cozy town with half-timbered houses and a population of fewer than 12,000 people. Unlike Saint-Malo, it was barely affected during World War II and has preserved its appearance since the early 20th century.

Top attractions:

• city walls stretching for about 3 kilometers, built in the 13th century. Some sections are accessible, offering panoramic views of the town;
• the Castle of Duchess Anne, which now houses a museum, and the botanical garden by its walls;
• the clock tower with an observation deck (46 meters), accessible for €3;
• the Gothic-Renaissance Church of Saint Malo (15th–19th centuries);
• the Basilica of Saint Saviour (construction began in the 12th century and was never completed). It houses the heart of the Breton commander Bertrand du Guesclin;
• the Cordeliers Monastery, founded in the 13th century;
• Place des Merciers with its half-timbered houses;
• the bridge over the Rance River, built in the 19th century;
• Rue du Jerzual—a steep street with half-timbered houses linking the upper and lower parts of the town, with slopes reaching up to 35 degrees in some places.

Every summer, Dinan hosts the Fête des Remparts (“Festival of the Ramparts”), during which not only participants but also many locals dress in historical costumes. The festival lasts four days and features theatrical performances, concerts, knight tournaments, workshops, and a fair. Free events take place in the town center and near the Basilica of Saint Saviour, while paid events are held in the moats by the city walls. This year, the festival will run from July 19 to 22.

How to get there: by car (about 30 minutes), by Tibus bus No. 10, or by TER trains with a transfer at Dol de Bretagne station (approximately 1 hour).

6. Quimper

The oldest city in Brittany and the administrative center of Finistère, the westernmost department of France. After visiting it, you can confidently say that you have been to the edge of the Earth!

Quimper is a convenient starting point for day trips around the area. The city’s main attractions include:

• the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Corentin, one of the oldest in Brittany;
• Rue Sainte-Catherine with its half-timbered houses;
• Mont Frugy with an observation platform offering views of the Old Town;
• the prefecture building, constructed in the early 20th century in Renaissance style and beautifully illuminated in the evening;
• the Jules Verlingue Faience Museum, which tells the story of Quimper faience produced in the city and its surroundings since 1690;
• the Museum of Fine Arts, housing oil paintings by Dutch masters, Breton landscapes, as well as drawings by Cocteau, Gustave Doré, and Max Jacob;
• the Saint-François Market, built on the site of a covered market that burned down in 1976.

Every July, Quimper hosts the Cornouaille Festival. Throughout the week leading up to the fourth Sunday of the month, the city comes alive with theatrical performances, concerts, and costumed processions, attracting groups from other Celtic countries. On Sunday, participants take part in a colorful parade through the streets, the program of which is not announced in advance.

How to get there: from Nantes to Quimper, the train journey takes up to 3 hours, the bus about 4 hours, and by car it takes 2–2.5 hours.

Day trips from Quimper:

7. Pointe du Raz

Visitors come here for breathtaking scenery: cliffs rising up to 70 meters high, fields of blooming heather, lighthouses, and the Atlantic Ocean crashing at your feet. To the east of the cape lies the Trépassés Bay, a favorite spot for surfers.

To enjoy a solitary walk, come here early in the morning — closer to noon, tour groups arrive and it becomes too crowded.

How to get there: by car (about 50 minutes) or by buses 53b or 52b from the railway station (1 hour 20 minutes; the ticket costs €2).

8. Le Fau

One of the most beautiful villages in France, located within the Armorique Regional Natural Park. Traditional half-timbered houses have been preserved here; 22 buildings in the center are listed as national monuments and are protected by the state.

Also worth seeing are the Church of the Savior, built in the 16th century, and the Town Hall on Place des Foiries.

How to get there: by car (about 30 minutes).

9. Huelgoat

A small, quiet town on the shore of a lake in the Armorique Regional Natural Park: colorful houses, an old church, a mill, a drowsy atmosphere… Nothing unusual. If it weren’t for the mysterious forest nearby, where granite boulders constantly catch your eye. Some believe the stones were scattered by a Celtic giant; others claim it was the work of Gargantua.

The most famous boulder is called La Roche Tremblante. Despite weighing 100 tons, even a child can make it rock — the key is finding the right point to apply force.

How to get there: by car (about 1 hour).

Culinary Top 5: what to try in Brittany

• Fish stew made from several types of fish
• Oysters
• Crêpes (made from wheat flour) and galettes (made from buckwheat flour) with various fillings
• Kouign-Amann puff pastry cake
• Far Breton, a custard-like cake made from crêpe batter

One of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks is Breizh Cola, a local alternative to Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola. Beer lovers should try the brews from Coreff de Morlaix and Lancelot breweries, especially the buckwheat beer Telenn Du. The local cider is also very good, with Cornouaille considered the tastiest.