Highlights - France
From the Emerald Coast to the Silver Coast, France's Atlantic side is brimming with treasures. Islands, towns and centuries-old ports have built their reputations on the back of their close links with the sea. It's great to explore this heritage on a Brittany and Bordeaux cruise.
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Essential - Brittany, France
A unique region of France, Brittany has a very different culture. Below, we explore what makes this area — the westernmost in France — just so charming.
Read more
Highlights - France
From the Emerald Coast to the Silver Coast, France's Atlantic side is brimming with treasures. Islands, towns and centuries-old ports have built their reputations on the back of their close links with the sea. It's great to explore this heritage on a Brittany and Bordeaux cruise.
Visit the historic centre of Bordeaux
If you want to visit Bordeaux in a day, it's best to focus on the historic area of the city, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. Start on the banks of the Garonne with the unmissable Place de la Bourse and its two pavilions representing 18th-century French classical architecture. Place de la Bourse and the Hôtel des Douanes are reflected in the Water Mirror: a modern creation which, since 2006, has been delighting locals and photographers alike. Other landmarks and buildings like the Grand Théâtre, Bordeaux Cathedral and Place des Quinconces are also worth visiting. Wine lovers will prefer to visit the Wine and Trade Museum, which pays tribute to the region's 2000-year wine-making tradition.
Stroll around the Pauillac vineyards
About 50 kilometres from Bordeaux, in the Gironde estuary, Pauillac is famous all over the world for the vineyards and chateaus surrounding it, which include Chateau Latour, Chateau Pichon Longueville and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. This land produces the world's best red wines. You can take a guided tour to learn more about some of the vineyards, their soils and the wine-making process.
Hike on Aix Island
Aix Island off the Fouras peninsula and east of Oléron Island is a peaceful haven covering just over 1 km2. To really appreciate this little nugget of land in the middle of the ocean, which has been named a noteworthy natural site, you should take to the Customs Trail. From this 7 km long route, you can admire the lighthouse with two towers; skirt beaches, marshes, vineyards and low houses with coloured shutters; and head into the little forest, coming out at the spectacular views of Pointe Saint-Eluard. History enthusiasts will want to visit the Napoleon Museum in the building where the emperor stayed from 8 to 15 July 1815 before surrendering to the British.
Get away from it all in Belle-île-en-Mer
Belle-île-en-Mer off the Quiberon peninsula is the biggest of the Ponant Islands and has the most suitable of names, meaning "Beautiful Island in the Sea". Its rocky peaks seem to tear into the ocean, while its sandy beaches are lapped by clear waters. Its moors, dunes and cliffs are wild-looking, though a few villages containing smart houses have sprung up nearby. The little ports and lighthouses, like the adorable one at Pointe des Poulains, add an undeniable sense of charm to this dot of land that is nice to explore by bike. Gardening lovers will enjoy visiting the Eden du Voyageur Garden. Its 3000 m2 of land contain flowers from all over the world with a variety of flamboyant colours and exciting stories.
Try oysters and explore Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo stands at the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan. The Corsair City, the birthplace of explorer Jacques Cartier, has a charming promenade edged with 19th-century homes along Bon Secours Beach (3 km). In the old town, Chateaubriand Square near Porte Saint-Thomas is a nice place to meet up with its lively bars, restaurants and markets. From Saint-Malo Cathedral (dating from the 13th century) to the corsair houses (18th century), Old Saint-Malo reminds us of its past closely linked to maritime trade. To try the oysters which are among the best in the region, go to one of Cancale's oyster farms! A dash of lemon squirted over seafood, a piece of bread, some good salted butter, a glass of white wine, some sea air: what more could you want?! Cancale oysters were added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in November 2019!
Tour the Glénan Islands
Some might say that the Glénan Islands feel like the Indian Ocean rather than Brittany. Yet they're definitely in Finistère. With fine-white-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters, they feel like the ends of the earth...a few miles off the coast of Concarneau. The seven uninhabited Glénan Islands come to life when the weather improves, showing travellers their full beauty. Iconic native daffodils cover the ground immaculately, the protective Penfret Lighthouse and Cigogne Fort keep watch, Guiriden desert island is breathtaking and Bananec Island is home to Europe's biggest sailing school. This outstanding Natura 2000 area welcomes 15,000 students each year.
Explore France's westernmost island: Ouessant
A few sheep graze on green pastures looking out at the sea in front of little houses with blue shutters. Iconic lighthouses including Créac’h stand tall against attacks by the ocean when the weather turns wild. Thousands of birds take refuge in the rocks lashed by the wind. In Lampaul, the "capital" of Ouessant, locals are proud to live on this island, this "finis terrae": the ends of the earth and the westernmost part of mainland France. With its picture-postcard landscape representing unspoilt Brittany, Ouessant has been a UNESCO Bosphere Reserve since 1988.
Wander round Bréhat: Flower Island
Some say this is one of France's most beautiful islands. Little Bréhat, also known as Flower Island, can be explored in two ways: on foot or by bike. There are no cars here. Near the landing stage are the village with its few shops and restaurants, Saint-Michel Chapel overlooking the surroundings from its astonishing hill and the old mill which was powered by the tides. And then, in the north of the island, nature turns wild. Bréhat was named as France's first official natural site in 1907. It has over 120 species of birds nesting in the characteristic pink rocks along the steep coastline with moorland above. The two lighthouses (Paon and Rosédo) stand facing the ocean, showing ships the safest route between the reefs.
Delight in Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's most-visited sites. This French treasure's history dates back to the 6th century. It would be impossible to travel through the region without exploring this abbey perched on a rocky island in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. As well as the superb architecture of the Romanesque abbey, the gothic cluster known as the "Merveille", the cloister and the fortifications, the natural surroundings are spectacular. The bay plays host to some of the biggest spring tides in continental Europe.
Pont-Aven
"Pont-Aven is a village with 14 mills and 15 houses". This well-known Brittany phrase is a reminder that this Finistère village used to prosper thanks to the milling activity that went on here. But Pont-Aven is also known as the City of Painters, and for good reason: from the second half of the 19th century, many painters came here thanks to a new railway line opening up this formerly cut-off region. These included the Americans Henry Bacon and Robert Wylie and the Frenchmen Français Paul Gauguin, Émile Bernard and Paul Sérusier. The Pont-Aven School encouraged a wealth of young painters/artists to ignore the diktats of academic art, laying the foundations for Synthetism and leading to certain Fauvist works.
Essential - Brittany, France
A unique region of France, Brittany has a very different culture. Below, we explore what makes this area — the westernmost in France — just so charming.
Top tips
The French greet each other by kissing both cheeks (la bise). In Brittany's Finistère region, only one kiss is usual.
Unique features
Key to Breton gastronomy, Cancale oysters were added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in November 2019. This means there is now international recognition of the expertise involved in oyster-farming here.
Essential phrases
The Bretons are attached to their culture. Why not try a few words of patois?
Hello/Good evening: Demat / Noz Vat
Goodbye: Kenavo
Welcome: Degemer mat
Excuse me/Please: Digarez-me / Mar plij
Thank you: Trugarez
Yes/No: Ya / Nann
How are you?: Mat an traoù
Very well, thanks: Mat ar jeu
My name is…: Ma anv a zo...
Gastronomy
You can't go to Brittany without trying buckwheat pancakes. These traditional Breton pancakes are garnished with ham, Emmental cheese and a fried egg. As for sweet dishes, kouign-amann (from kouign: sweet bread and amann: butter) delights foodies. This cake is made from bread dough and a mixture of butter and sugar, folded in like puff pastry. It caramelises a little in the oven. A real treat!
Myths and legends
Legend has it that the Breton headdress, a key element of the region's traditional costume, first appeared in the 17th century. The story goes that in 1675, Louis XIV razed several Breton church steeples to the ground to put down an uprising caused by new taxes being introduced. As a protest and a reminder of these destroyed steeples, young women added a few centimetres to their famous headdresses known as "bigoudens". Some were almost 40 centimetres tall.
In the spotlight
A species native to the island that bears its name, the Ouessant sheep has become increasingly popular in recent years with the rise of eco-grazing. A hardy breed, this is the smallest sheep in the world (under 50 centimetres around the withers) and can clear a range of terrains in an eco-friendly way. The French Ministry of Finance has even used this breed to maintain its land.
Culture
Book. A French literature classic, The Chouans by Balzac immerses the reader in a troubled Brittany. The Breton farmers are asking for the King's return and confront the Republic's soldiers on the eve of the Coup of 18 Brumaire (Napoleon Bonaparte's coup). This gripping novel combines a historical narrative with love stories.
Music. Meaning "night celebration", Fest-Noz aims to revive the farmers' parties that disappeared in the 30s. Concerts, dances, tastings and demonstrations of old agricultural machines are organised. Fest-Noz was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2010.
Facts and figures
797797 islands and islets have been discovered along the coast of Brittany. Some are grouped into archipelagos, like the Bréhat, Sept-Îles and Glénan Archipelagos.
