Brittany (Breton: Breizh, French: Bretagne) is one of the 27 regions of France. It occupies a large peninsula in the northwest of the country, lying between the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. Its capital is Rennes. The region of Brittany is made up of 80% of the former Duchy and Province of Brittany. The remaining 20% of the province is the Loire-Atlantique department which now lies inside the Pays de la Loire region, whose capital, Nantes, was the historical capital of the Duchy of Brittany.
Brittany has known many stormy periods in its history, but it has been a cherished land since Neolithic and Celtic times. Caesar subjugated the Celts and as Roman rule faded, waves of British immigrants transformed the place. Through medieval and Ancien Régime periods, Brittany and Britain fought bitterly for trade and then colonies until today’s tourist times brought much happier relations.
Everything about Brittany is distinctive, from its geography and its granite looks to its traditions and its language. The region stands apart from the rest of France, its long peninsula reaching out 300 kilometres into the Atlantic, however, Brittany isn’t isolated, but open to the world. While it celebrates its traditions, it’s also forward-looking and fun-loving.
Brittany has inspired storytelling and tall tales, from wildly exaggerated Arthurian and saintly adventures to 19th-century Romantic tear-jerkers. It has set artists’ imaginations alight, Gauguin most famously becoming head boy of the unruly Pont-Aven school. While outsiders got madly enthusiastic about Brittany’s wild streak, the Bretons got on with enjoying their exuberant traditional singing and dancing, as many do to this day.
Brittany hosts an exceptional number of festivals, from the traditional to the contemporary. Whether you’re interested in those putting Breton customs to the fore, or those featuring future talent, you’ll be spoilt for choice. It’s not just the big towns that propose major events, but also some surprising smaller places.
From glorious walled cities and castles to extravagant churches, Brittany’s built heritage looks extremely appealing while recalling the concerns and obsessions of Breton society down the centuries. Traditional farms and manors are scattered liberally across the countryside and the Church commissioned both fine and modest buildings from major cathedrals and abbeys to the quaintest, tiniest chapels.
Renowned for its rocks, often wild in both formation and colour, Brittany has very distinctive looks. While the seascapes tend to the dramatic, the landscapes inland are often gentle. The mild climate allows all manner of plants to thrive. The Breton carthorse may have retired from the fields, but it and other traditional animals are given space in special centres. Underwater, there’s a whole other Breton world to discover of course!
